TR2/3/3A Front Suspension Top wishbone refit?

[karls59tr]

Apparently you don't torque(26-40 ft/lbs) the nuts for the top wishbone to fulcrum until the car has been lowered to the ground and with two people sitting in the car so as to allow the suspension to set at normal working height. How critical is this setting? Can you even get a torque wrench in there? When they say two people do they mean a total of say 300lb. Is there any easy way to do this?

 

[Darrell_Walker]

If you are using original type rubber bushings, torquing at the correct ride height is important, as other wise the rubber bushing will always be twisted (the accommodate the suspension movement by deflecting, rather that rotating in the opening). I would put whatever weight the car normally sees. If there isn't clearance with the wheel installed, you can support the suspension with a jack stand to allow weight on it.

If you are installing urethane bushings, they slide rather that deflect, and you can torque them at whatever height is convenient.

 

[thechileman]

I did not know that about the difference in the way urethane bushings operate. Good info Darrell! I learn something new on this site every day.

 

[karls59tr]

Using Urethane bushings. thanks for the info.

 

[TR3driver]

Same goes for Nylatron, which is what I use (and was going to suggest).

I can't prove it, but I strongly suspect that not having the suspension loaded when tightening those upper nuts is at least part of the reason that the upper bushings used to fail so often for me.

Another method that should work is to tighten the upper nuts before installing the spring pan, when you can just hold the suspension in roughly the center of it's travel.