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Re: Suspension and Steering Questions

To: dcooper@paciolan.com, 6pack <6pack@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Suspension and Steering Questions
From: "Lumia, John" <jlumia@ball.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 08:43:05 -0700
Dwayne, I have rebuilt my front suspension and although I am not an
expert in this area I find your ride height difference unexpected.  Did
you put in new springs?  Are you sure everything went back together
properly?  Are the front and rear tires identical (at least in pairs)
and properly inflated?  Perhaps the rear end springs are worn, one side
more than the other that is causing the problem in the front?  But I
normally woudnt expect a significant ride height difference after a
front end rebuild I would look things over again before resorting to a
spacer.

I currently have my steering column out as part of an engine bay respray
but its been awhile since I've done anything with it since I am it the
midst of an engine rebuild. There are two bushings at each end, although
they are somewhat recessed.  I have it apart and I know the bushes can
be pressed out with a small press but right now I forget whether they
can be pushed in and removed through an access hole or pushed out.  TRF
has had the bushings on BO for a few months and pretty soon I'm gonna
need em.  But you should convince yourself the problem is in the
bearings and not in the attachment of the column to the car.  These cars
use felt pads around the clamps and often they get worn out,
particularly if someone has been using the steering wheel as a handle
for getting in and out of the car.  If you look up at the column and it
moves as you yank on it, or if the play is more up/down vs left/right, I
would suspect the column mount and attempt to tighten it up first.

John - 1976 TR6 (engine painted and 95% reassembled)

Dwayne wrote>
>
>I just rebuilt the front suspension on the '74 and have found that the
ride
>height is about 1/2" higher on the right side than the left.  Not a
lot, but
>noticeable.  I haven't had the front end aligned yet, but the camber
seems
>about the same (visually), so I don't expect that to have much of an
effect.
>Is this typical? Should I just buy a spring spacer?
>
>Also I've got some play in the upper steering column.  I can rattle the
wheel
>back and forth/up and down.  Again the play is minor, but it's as
though the
>bushings you see in the catalogs are missing or worn.  How hard are
these to
>replace.  Any tips would be appreciated.

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