I just finished my front suspension. Replaced, trunions, tie rod ends,
ball, springs, shocks and all bushings. I the tie rod (hardly the most
frozen bolt/nuts I had) I was able to get a wrench on the flat spot of the
ends and another on the stop nut. After much PB blaster, a couple of taps
with a hammer on the offending area they finally came loose. I found pulling
the two wrenches towards each other, gave me the most strength and
confidence. But that is not what I'm really writing about.
I had a crack in the frame bracket, that I was unaware of until I put the
car back together. Only when the shop could not align the front did I
discover the problem (after fretting I put something in backwards) by
looking at the car with a load on it. In the air there was enough spring in
the metal to close the gap. Moral of the story, check the welds on your
bracket (where the lower wishbone connects the frame), as these are an
apparent weak area on early cars, but even reared it ugly "crack" on my '76.
I also found the left front to be much more corroded than the right. I
wonder if you and others have found this to be the case? My guess it that
airflow around the car tends to splatter oil on the right side, (therefore
protecting it a bit more) and leaving the left bone dry at the mercy of the
elements.
Good luck
Keith Meinhold
66 Marston Avenue
San Francisco CA 94112
415 585 5998 H
415 336 5336 C
415 836 7775 W
http://www.navyboy.com/
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-6pack@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-6pack@autox.team.net]On
Behalf Of Richard Seaton
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2002 9:43 AM
To: Cliff Davies; Web_disscusion List
Subject: Re: Steering Rack
Cliff,
I Just finished the same on my TR Friday. If you don't mind buggering up
the tie rod ends try using vise grips to hold the rod that turns. Of course
this will ruin the tie rod end. Use an impact gun on the nut. If that
doesn't
work try an air chisel to split the nut, then use the chisel to force the
bolt
off the end. There may be a better way, but it worked for me.
My problem was removing one of the trunions, which seems to be frozen. I
haven't tried to hard to remove it yet. I'm concentrating on cutting out
rust
on the frame right now and welding in new pieces. I've got a lot of cutting
and welding to do.
Good luck,
Richard
'69 TR still coming apart.
----- Original Message -----
From: Cliff Davies
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2002 11:18 AM
To: '6pack@autox.team.net'
Subject: Steering Rack
I have just finished an 8 hour marathon whereby I stripped off the diff
rear and front suspension. The only hang-up I have is removing the steering
rack I pulled off the entire front suspension with it still attached. I
could not get the tie rod end bolts off, they came partially off then the
whole post thing would turn, am I missing something do I need a special
tool.
Thanks,
Cliff
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