Just an opinion, but the u-bolts & nuts have to be relatively cheap & if the
current ones are 24 years old & rusty...How much would it cost if one broke?
As long as you're yanking the rear axle, do the brake cyls. & the flex hose.
Might as well check the shoes & drums too.
This is all dependant on budget of course. I've been known to take things
too far, sandblasting, painting & etc. It's just so hard to put it back
together, knowing I'll have to do it again someday to get it "right".
Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: Philip Hubbard <phubbard@carroll.com>
To: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: Monday, May 25, 1998 7:06 PM
Subject: Clunking - Suspension (continued)
>Did a bit more inspecting of the '74 Midget looking for the reason it
>sometimes clunks on deceleration or acceleration. Seems I might have
>suspension issues both front and back.
>
>Front:
>
>Did the wheel rock test as per Haynes. Rocked the wheel with hands in the
>12:00 and 6:00 positions. Both front wheels rock slightly. By slightly
>I'd say there is about 1/16" or a bit more play in each of the wheels. I
>didn't see any other play among the bushes, etc so I'm thinking kingpin?
>Reading up on all this makes it sound tricky and I may just have it looked
>at professionally. There are just some areas that one wants to be sure of
>and besides it would be a good time for a pro to inspect the brakes.
>Another area which must be spot on.
>
>Rear:
>
>Here a visual inspection gives me the feeling the springs should be
>replaced. Whereas the front looks clean and rust free (must have been done
>recently) the rear springs and u-bolts etc look very rusty. The rubber
>bushings at the rear are very deteriorated also. Another odd thing. The
>two springs don't look the same! Could this be why the car is so jumpy? :)
> What I mean is this. The passenger's side is 5 leaves thick at the
>thickest. In between each of these 5 thick leaves appears to be a very
>thin leaf. On the driver's side there are no such thin leaves. Now the
>rear seems easier to replace. I think I could handle that job. Any advice
>on what I need to make sure I replace at the same time as the leaves? I
>would plan on doing the leaves and any rubber bushes. Do I really need to
>do u-bolts or any of the other parts?
>
>Thanks for reading so far in if you made it this far. And thanks for any
>advice.
>
>Philip
>Burgundy 1974 Midget
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