Cascade Crew

Al Hasse · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject: New stuff up front

Well, I finally got around to starting on the front end steering parts. When I bought the car, I had it checked by a mechanic, and he informed me that the idler arm was marginal. A few months ago I bought all the parts I needed to rebuild the steering and alignment. This afternoon, after finishing with the rear and brakes, I took everything off, including the lower A-arms. I installed new center link, tie rod ends, tie rod adjusting sleeves, and idler arm. The A-arms are still out, I'm going to take them to a machine shop to have the ball joints and new bushings pressed in.

Here's a couple of shots of what I have so far. When I get the A-arms back in, I need to get some grease in the zerk fittings and take her in for an alignment.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

Rent the ball joint tool from like autozone or schucks loaner program. It's just a big C-Clamp with ball joint sized fittings on the end. Super easy to do. Especially with the A-Arm out.

Al Hasse · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:37 pm Post subject:

Thanks Paul, I forgot about that. What about the bushings?

Al Hasse · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject:

I have the A-arms cleaned up and the new ball joints pressed in. What a workout that press is without impact tools Shocked

I still need to have the bushings pressed out and the poly ones pressed in.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:53 pm Post subject:

I haven't done the bushings myself on our cars. Did them on the Chevette though. Air Chisel to get em out. Vice to get em in.

Dewey316 · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:55 pm Post subject:

When Dan and I did mine, we dot the bushtings out with a lot of work with a drill (to get the rubber out), and a hacksaw and chissle. We used an arbor press to put them in, you might be able to press them in yourself with a big enough vice, the hardest part, is finding a peice of pipe to use to press it in, so you don't cursh the rubber/poly matterial.

--John

Xophertony · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject:

a-arm bushings i had pressed it at a machine shoppe. they did it for $10 i think. Cool

i heard a trick once, have not tried it. put the bushings in the freezer and heat the a-arms up to around 150* in an oven, then you can drop the bushings and ballpoints right in. could work.

Dewey316 · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject:

Al Hasse · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:20 pm Post subject:

Talk to some Brake/Alignment shops.

88GTAJim · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject:

The hot/cold trick does work, it just depends on the coefficient of expansion of the materials you are working with. I had an oilite bronze bushing I made with a .005 press fit into and aluminum housing. I heated the housing up to 200° and stuck the bushing in the freezer for about a half hour. I tested this process prior to actual assembly and the bronze piece actually shrank .005 and aluminum grew .020 for a total of .020 clearance. I actually had to wait for about 20 seconds for the parts to stabilize in temperature before they even stayed together. These were a little larger parts and the aluminum has an excellent coefficient of expansion so your results may vary.

If you have a way to do some measuring Al, like a pair of dial calipers, it would be easy enough to test out. I would try freezing the bushings first though measuring before and after. If 200° seems too hot, try 100° or so and see how much it grows.

I prefer this method of assembly to actually forcing parts together whenever possible. It's just alot easier on the parts.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:28 am Post subject:

Works for Pilot bearings.

Al Hasse · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject:

Al Hasse · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject:

I guess I'm going to the base hobby shop Saturday. If I understood the guy through his accent, they do have a press and it'll cost $3/hr for me to use it. I can definitely get out of there for under $10, probably $6 max.

blue89 · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:38 am Post subject:

Thats a pretty cheap rate for using all the gear! Do they have welders? Are you going to Bangor or PSNS?

Al Hasse · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:59 am Post subject:

I thought so too, but that's about the rate for using a flat bay (non lift). They do have welding equipment, and from what I've heard, a complete paint booth.

It's at the Bangor base, I wouln't know where to look at PSNS Confused

Haven't been there very often, even when I was in the Navy.

Al Hasse · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:02 pm Post subject:

The press at the base hobby shop didn't work. Just a little hand operated hydraulic pump and it didn't generate the pressure needed to push the bushings out. Ended up dropping them at Les Schwab to do them for $25 per arm. They were quite busy, I hope to get them back today.

blue89 · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:21 am Post subject:

I think I paid about that price to have mine done.

Did you consider getting the bump steer kit? I saw the set on Spohn.net and I'm thinking about getting it. I don't think it'll get rid of it completely but it would help a lot.

Al Hasse · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject:

Got the A-arms back on the way home this afternoon. Installed them and used the floor jack to press the springs in place wit the A-arms. Finished up just as it was getting dark. All I have left to do is grease the outer tie rod ends and ball joints, put the wheels on, then drive to the alignment shop. I might have it ready for the weekend, but doubtful.

Al Hasse · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject:

Everything is back together now. After assembling the tie rods and center link along side the old assembly, I found out this afternoon that I put the center link on the car backward, with the tie rods attaching to the front. Fixed that and put on the wheels and straightened them as much as possible. Put the car on the ground and found the front sits a whole inch higher than before I cut the springs. I think partially because the wheels still have the angle the had when hanging off the ground. Get it rolling and the springs to settle and it might be OK. Now when I have time, it goes to the alignment shop - probably after the weekend.