Re: adjustable strut rods....
[Re: Dart 340]
#452165
08/28/09 09:15 AM
08/28/09 09:15 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,083 Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,083
Niles , Ohio
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I used RMS in my 65.They are a nice piece with heavy heim joints.They are like 190 bucks for the pair but Bill makes quality stuff.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
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Re: adjustable strut rods....
[Re: Noblewk]
#452166
08/28/09 09:33 AM
08/28/09 09:33 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,195 Snowing in the north!
Dart 340
OP
moparts member
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OP
moparts member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,195
Snowing in the north!
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Quote:
Quote:
What I mean by that is that the lca will move backwards when I sweep it up and down. When I bolt the arm in place without strut bushings, the flange of the strut rod is even with the hole in the frame. I'm sure over the years something was knocked around but I dont see and damage that has caused it to change, but the rod is now about 1/4-1/2" too long and pushed the arm out of place rearward. My easiest fix thought was to just use an adjustable strut rod and that should keep the front end alignment in place correct/
Is the pinion bolt torqued to 145Lbs? There shouldn't be any lateral movement from the lower control arm. If its torqued then I would be looking real close at the Control Arm bushing or the K-Frame mounting holes....
They are poly bushings so they float on the kingpin which is torqued down to 145. I did take a close look at everything and cannot find any structural bends or damage. Poly strut bushings are always thicker than the rubber but I did trim them down. The issue is still something either from day one at the factory or over the last 40 years has made it so the strut rod is "long" and tips the lca out of position. The rubber bushings I removed were way worn to one side which coincides with what I am finding upon reassembly with the poly, and subsequent kicking back due to the strut rod length.
I was thinking an adjustable strut rod would fix this. I see FFI has some and use them for a similar purpose.
Hodgekiss has some but way pricey and ESPO also. I see some also adjust angle with a ball type end that might be nice as I think mopar strut rods had some inherent binding issues.
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Re: adjustable strut rods....
[Re: Dart 340]
#452168
08/28/09 07:49 PM
08/28/09 07:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,825 Sk. Canada
RemCharger
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,825
Sk. Canada
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Quote:
What I mean by that is that the lca will move backwards when I sweep it up and down. When I bolt the arm in place without strut bushings, the flange of the strut rod is even with the hole in the frame. I'm sure over the years something was knocked around but I dont see and damage that has caused it to change, but the rod is now about 1/4-1/2" too long and pushed the arm out of place rearward. My easiest fix thought was to just use an adjustable strut rod and that should keep the front end alignment in place correct/
The control arm is being pushed forward ?? Is the king pin mounting hole pushed forward? Wrong bushing washer on the strut rod? I'd personally want to know whats wrong first rather then bandaiding it.
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Re: adjustable strut rods....
[Re: Dart 340]
#452170
08/29/09 08:58 AM
08/29/09 08:58 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,287 West Coast, USA
jbc426
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,287
West Coast, USA
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Are you using the poly strut rod bushings as well? If so the strut rod bushings usually have to be trimed to shorten them about 1/4 inch, so they are the same heigth as the stock rubber ones. I read that on this site from some knowledgable posters.
Also, there is something written up on Firm Feels website regarding "wandering toe" as a result of the issues in the parts you describe, and the cure for it. I'd look on their website and give them a call.
The added benefit of having adjustable strut rods is that you can adjust(read increase), eliminate the bind. and match up your castor from side to side to some degree. I need to put a few sets of them in my cars as well.
I made a mistake and passed on buying and installing them when I rebuilt the front ends in my cars, and wished I hadn't now. Now I'm going to have to put in a little extra work and $ to pull everything back apart and install them, plus the cost of another set of alignments...
1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)
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Re: adjustable strut rods....
[Re: jbc426]
#452171
08/29/09 09:39 AM
08/29/09 09:39 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,083 Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,083
Niles , Ohio
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Plus the RMS ones let the arms swing easier.Bill makes a good part.The heims he uses are big so they should last a long time.It will give you a little adjustment for caster also.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
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Re: adjustable strut rods....
[Re: jbc426]
#452172
08/29/09 11:39 AM
08/29/09 11:39 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,195 Snowing in the north!
Dart 340
OP
moparts member
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OP
moparts member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,195
Snowing in the north!
|
Quote:
Are you using the poly strut rod bushings as well? If so the strut rod bushings usually have to be trimed to shorten them about 1/4 inch, so they are the same heigth as the stock rubber ones. I read that on this site from some knowledgable posters.
Also, there is something written up on Firm Feels website regarding "wandering toe" as a result of the issues in the parts you describe, and the cure for it. I'd look on their website and give them a call.
The added benefit of having adjustable strut rods is that you can adjust(read increase), eliminate the bind. and match up your castor from side to side to some degree. I need to put a few sets of them in my cars as well.
I made a mistake and passed on buying and installing them when I rebuilt the front ends in my cars, and wished I hadn't now. Now I'm going to have to put in a little extra work and $ to pull everything back apart and install them, plus the cost of another set of alignments...
I did read that posting on shortening the bushings and ended up cutting them down to near what the stock rubber one piece were. One side it is about a half inch thick and the other is only about a quarter inch think. This gives me a pretty stable arm location sweeping it up and down. If I have any fore or aft movement it looks to be limited to about 1/8" at the most.
100% of everything on this beast was 40 years old and shot bad. Hopefully this will get it back to if not perfect, decent driving shape.
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Re: adjustable strut rods....
[Re: Dart 340]
#452173
08/29/09 11:56 AM
08/29/09 11:56 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,478 So Cal
autoxcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,478
So Cal
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