A-arm articulation
#1
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Car: '86 TA
Engine: '74 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.77
A-arm articulation
I'm rebuilding my front suspension, have a question about the a-arms. With everything removed and just the arms left attached to the car, shouldn't they swing fairly easily?
I've never had the front end apart before. The arm dropped full down as expected when removing the spring, but then remains kind of fixed there. I can heave it up by hand with all my weight and get it to move upward a couple of inches, but it pulls back down hard like its spring loaded. Cant even pull it up to the ride height position.
Is this normal, or should the arms articulate easier than this? Do I have a problem with the bushings?
I've never had the front end apart before. The arm dropped full down as expected when removing the spring, but then remains kind of fixed there. I can heave it up by hand with all my weight and get it to move upward a couple of inches, but it pulls back down hard like its spring loaded. Cant even pull it up to the ride height position.
Is this normal, or should the arms articulate easier than this? Do I have a problem with the bushings?
#2
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Car: 87' IROC
Engine: L98
Transmission: T56
Re: A-arm articulation
I'm rebuilding my front suspension, have a question about the a-arms. With everything removed and just the arms left attached to the car, shouldn't they swing fairly easily?
I've never had the front end apart before. The arm dropped full down as expected when removing the spring, but then remains kind of fixed there. I can heave it up by hand with all my weight and get it to move upward a couple of inches, but it pulls back down hard like its spring loaded. Cant even pull it up to the ride height position.
Is this normal, or should the arms articulate easier than this? Do I have a problem with the bushings?
I've never had the front end apart before. The arm dropped full down as expected when removing the spring, but then remains kind of fixed there. I can heave it up by hand with all my weight and get it to move upward a couple of inches, but it pulls back down hard like its spring loaded. Cant even pull it up to the ride height position.
Is this normal, or should the arms articulate easier than this? Do I have a problem with the bushings?
#3
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Car: '86 TA
Engine: '74 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.77
Re: A-arm articulation
Thanks for the super-quick reply!
I figured that was how the bushings worked, but couldn't quite believe it . I'd have thought smooth articulation would have been a given requirement for this joint. I gather then that the last guy who had this apart, probably decades ago, cranked the bolts up with the arms in the down position.
I've already bought stock rubber replacement bushes, so they're going in if required. As I'm pulling the arms anyway to assess the bushes, I'll tighten them when back at ride height as you suggested.
I figured that was how the bushings worked, but couldn't quite believe it . I'd have thought smooth articulation would have been a given requirement for this joint. I gather then that the last guy who had this apart, probably decades ago, cranked the bolts up with the arms in the down position.
I've already bought stock rubber replacement bushes, so they're going in if required. As I'm pulling the arms anyway to assess the bushes, I'll tighten them when back at ride height as you suggested.
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Car: Base 91 'bird
Engine: 3.1 v6
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.27 & PBR
Re: A-arm articulation
Smooth non-binding movement costs more. Often the answer to why things are the way they are.
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