prb51
Luke Skywalker
Offline
Just finished a 20 mile shake out after rebuilding the front end.
I rebuilt with the TRF kit and poly bushings thruout.
No squeeks at all.
The left side upper poly bushes were mounted 'dry' and the right side with anti seize (an afterthought after reading a post here)...neither side squeek, no dif.
The original rubber bushes squeeked some as the PO had the upper inners too tight and the lower outers too loose (it still worked well though).
I didn't notice any harshness, actually the opposite with less jolting over bumps, with the TRF provided poly.
I replaced all of the steering ball joints and the idler assembly.
Steering seemed tighter (harder steering) with the wheels in the air but is actually easier under way.
I purchased the new idler assembly from a popular internet auction medium (many for sale usually) and it worked out ok after I took the time to smooth the action of the idler arm in it's housing (initially out of the box stiff/rough) and replacing the straight grease fitting with a 90 deg. elbow fitting...the straight fitting would not allow you to grease the unit with the frame in the way. Anyway, no slop in the unit and it works well once massaged.
The PO did a nice job on the car and actually it didn't need rebuilding yet (obviously he didn't drive it much) but you don't know that til you take everything apart and it's nice to know how everything works.
p.s. I did find (during dis assembly) though that both the left and right tie rod levers (attached to the vertical link(s)) had worked slightly loose even though they were secured with the proper nyloc nut...that bears checking.
I rebuilt with the TRF kit and poly bushings thruout.
No squeeks at all.
The left side upper poly bushes were mounted 'dry' and the right side with anti seize (an afterthought after reading a post here)...neither side squeek, no dif.
The original rubber bushes squeeked some as the PO had the upper inners too tight and the lower outers too loose (it still worked well though).
I didn't notice any harshness, actually the opposite with less jolting over bumps, with the TRF provided poly.
I replaced all of the steering ball joints and the idler assembly.
Steering seemed tighter (harder steering) with the wheels in the air but is actually easier under way.
I purchased the new idler assembly from a popular internet auction medium (many for sale usually) and it worked out ok after I took the time to smooth the action of the idler arm in it's housing (initially out of the box stiff/rough) and replacing the straight grease fitting with a 90 deg. elbow fitting...the straight fitting would not allow you to grease the unit with the frame in the way. Anyway, no slop in the unit and it works well once massaged.
The PO did a nice job on the car and actually it didn't need rebuilding yet (obviously he didn't drive it much) but you don't know that til you take everything apart and it's nice to know how everything works.
p.s. I did find (during dis assembly) though that both the left and right tie rod levers (attached to the vertical link(s)) had worked slightly loose even though they were secured with the proper nyloc nut...that bears checking.