5 replies to this topic

[jd lj]

I have a quick question for you guys.

Should the upper control arm pivot rods be greased where the bush sits on them? I assume that the pivot rods should be able to rotated within the bush so that the bush doesn't move in the control arm instead.

On a side note, my upper control arm bump stops pushed in to my freshly painted control arms easily by hand with a bit of rubber grease.

JD

[S pack]

James, OEM rubber bushes? No lubrication. The bushes are not meant to pivot on the shafts. All movement is taken by the rubber.

[jd lj]

Thanks Dave.
All the bushes are new Makay rubber ones.

[axistr]

Hi James ,Just a quick tip, I put a bit of never seize on the bar only to make it easy to replace the bushes next time. As mentioned above the bushes shouldn't move on the bar or within the control arm, its the rubber flexing that does all the work. leave the control arm pivot/mount bar end nuts loose and tighten them when the car is on the ground, full kerb weight and at ride height is best. Don't tighten the nuts when suspension is in droop (up on stands). Tightening the nuts up in the air will cause the bushes to be loaded up when droped on the ground further twisting the rubber bushs. The extra movement when driving will cause further twisting and the extra loading will cause premature damage to the rubber bushes.    

[jd lj]

Thanks for the tips.

[jd lj]

Does anyone have a torque specification for the two smaller bolts that go through the main part off the K frame and the two legs? These are the two that are just further inward from the lower control arm bolts and also go through the steering rack brackets.

The workshop manuals don't seem to show this torque setting because taking these bolts out wouldn't be done in normal services of the suspension but only in a restoration.

Thanks.