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Author
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Topic: Upper A-arm question help please
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Gary
Gearhead Posts: 726
From: Sarasota, Fla. USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 07-26-2001 08:51 AM
 
Is there a certain way (adjustment)to install the A-arm to the upper arm shafts? What im in question about is do you tighten the big end seal nuts as tight as they will go? I installed the Dr.Gas upper arm lowering re-location kit. I have since installed the engine (522cid) and the car still has 4" between the bump stops and the upper arm. Seems something is keeping the car up it the air still. I have noted on the old shafts that if you tighten the nut all the way there is no upper travel swing, im wondering if the big seal nuts should be turned a half turn lose to free up travel. Another words as the car is now the arm travels down with no problem but not up. Up is what I need to get the car down to the desired ride height, from there I can cut half coils to fine tune it where I want it.
This question is hard to explain here in words, basicly nothing is binding from what I can see but something is keeping this car way up off the ground. Iv'e bounced the car several times but still the front end sits to high. The coils are correct BBF
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Bob Hopkins
Gearhead Posts: 362
From: BRIDGEPORT NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 07-26-2001 03:42 PM
I think we need a lot more info like what car are you working on? The tighness of A-arms should not effect travel up or down.
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Gary
Gearhead Posts: 726
From: Sarasota, Fla. USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 07-26-2001 05:04 PM
Opps, sorry..car is a 1969 mach one
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davids68
Gearhead Posts: 251
From: Louisville, KY, United States M&M # 351
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 07-26-2001 06:04 PM
Not sure about the 69 but on the 68 you have to make sure the bolts for connecting to the shock tower are centered, and have a piece of metal a certain length inside the A arm to keep it the right distance when tightening. Then the big nuts torque to a certain setting. Don't know the length, or torque spec without going out and looking it up in the manual. HTH
David
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Gary
Gearhead Posts: 726
From: Sarasota, Fla. USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 07-27-2001 07:58 AM
Im thinking now I just need to drive the car some and let her settle down. I have all new front end parts and new coils. I had thought by it setting for the last 6 months it would settle some but probably just needs some bumpy roads to get the car down and settle. I tried letting the car down hard off the jack a few times but guess that was just not enough. Later I will cut down the coils to get the ride height I want. I now have the front suspension mods to do so (negative wedge kits). It just looks werid having put a lowering kit on the car and the car is now higher than when I started....lol
When I first measured out the height the car should be at after the kit was installed, the fender lip should be just below the top of the tire not 3" higher like it is now!
I assembled everything right so will have to wait and see after I drive the car some and see where she sits and go from there. Only thing holding me up now is waiting for my radiator to come in, then the car will live again after 1-1/2 years of total restoration and mods. This waiting all the time for parts is killing me!!! GRRRR
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jkilroy
Gearhead Posts: 1811
From: Vicksburg, MS
Registered: Dec 99
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posted 07-27-2001 11:05 PM
I have experienced this...Lossen the sway bar mounts and lower arm bolts a couple o turns with it up on a jack, then lower it down. Don't tighten anything util the car is sitting level on the ground. Hard to do you say? Jack it up and put it on 4 ramps. Do the same in the back while you are at it with the leaf springs and sway bars (if you have any). If the car sits really high still, I would guess your alignment is WAY off. Trust me, it happens. I put my front end together once and the toe was so far off that if I pulled forward the front of the car would climb up as the tires tried to meet in the middle. If I backed up they would both try to exit the outside lowering the car to the stops. Try pushing the car up and back a few times and see if this is happening. ------------------
Jay Kilroy
68' Fastback GT 390
"No such thing as a cam thats too big"
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 9835
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 07-28-2001 12:01 AM
Gary,Jay's got it. Everytime I jack up and lower the front of the '66 the front end is about 3"s higher than normal. Roll it a few feet and it settles right back down.  SteveW
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