Re: front suspension evaluation
[Re: AverageJoe]
#1306599
09/19/12 09:49 PM
09/19/12 09:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,312 SoCal
68HemiB
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,312
SoCal
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Control arm bushings should have all their rubber present, with little or no sign of cracking. The inner and outer sleeves should be ABSOLUTELY concentric. Squeaking or groaning is a good indication that something might be amiss.
Ball joints need to be unloaded to be tested. Unload the LBJ by jacking as far outboard as possible on the LCA. The ball joint should exhibit no movement up and down when prying under the tire. It should also show no lateral movement when yanking on the tire top & bottom. Do not confuse wheel bearing looseness for ball joint looseness when doing this.
The UBJ carries little to no load. A quality piece may well outlast an LBJ of the same quality and age. Look for the same kinds of excess movement (especially lateral movement) as described above.
Tie rod ends are miniature ball joints. They should exhibit no lateral movement relative to where they attach when the force is applied outward from the steering wheel, or when the force is applied inward by grasping a jacked-up tire and moving it side to side. Do not confuse wheel bearing looseness for tie rod looseness when doing this. The TRE should also not be compressible with the strength in the typical adult male hand, when squeezing with the palm under the TRE and the fingers wrapped up around and beside the castle nut.
Test tie rod-like joints similarly, be they on the pitman arm or idler arm. The frame pivot of the idler should move in the arc in which it was designed to move, but with no up/down movement.
All dust boots should be in place, without cracking or tears. Their job is not only to contain any overflow grease, but also to keep the outside environment outside.
Strut rod [aka brake control rod] bushings should be without cracks and should exhibit no looseness whatsoever in the up-down or side-to-side axis. Under braking, the road wheel should show no discernible movement in the wheel well.
Down to just a blue car now.
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Re: front suspension evaluation
[Re: OzHemi]
#1306601
09/19/12 11:47 PM
09/19/12 11:47 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,312 SoCal
68HemiB
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,312
SoCal
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I'm sure I have no idea what you're referring to... And I did almost pollute my own response with an obscure reference to tableware, but decided not to after all.
Down to just a blue car now.
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