Front Tube Arm Bound tight

[Pb Foot]

What I have:
MkIII, Tube arms, 1990 donor.

What is wrong:
Pass suspension is bound up tight.

What I have done:
Re greased everything, removed the bolts to the bottom tube arms.

It is still bound up tight. It can be moved up with a jack, and I can force it down with my body weight, but it seems way too tight.

Please help.
Thanks.

[Dan Golub]

What I have:
MkIII, Tube arms, 1990 donor.

What is wrong:
Pass suspension is bound up tight.

What I have done:
Re greased everything, removed the bolts to the bottom tube arms.

It is still bound up tight. It can be moved up with a jack, and I can force it down with my body weight, but it seems way too tight.

Please help.
Thanks.

Hi,

It sounds like over time, the steel frame mounts may have been pulled in by the lower control arm bolts, essentially pinching the control arm between the tabs. I would suggest that you remove the lower control arm, slightly spread apart the lower control arm tabs slightly, and reinstall the control arms and bolts. When you install the bolts, make sure you do not over tighten them. The nylon lock nut will stay in place no matter what torque you apply to it. That should do the trick, based on everything else you have done.

Thanks

Dan@FFR

[Pb Foot]

Thanks, I will do that. It is bound on the top, as well. Any ideas?

[Jason Lavigne]

Hi Pb Foot,

That's a great name, by the way....

If the upper arm is bound, I think I'd prefer to disassemble it (specifically the two pivot sleeves). They should be on their with nylon locknuts or snap rings, and you could clean everything out thoroughly & then reassemble with grease. It shouldn't bind at that point, but keep an eye out for any physical interference as you reassemble. You definitely don't want the pivoting action of the upper arm to be applying a torque (because of friction in the joint) to the upper arm mount because it amounts to a repetitive, fatiguing force on the steel.

Hope that helps!

Jason @ FFR