Upper Control Arm Ends

[Junbug]

I was installing my upper control arms today but couldn't find any reference to when I should tighten the ends and to what torque. Red arrows in the picture below are the nuts in question.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=178745&d=1674955043

[JohnK]

Those nuts don't get torqued. you just want to take out the slack. The manual says this:

Pivot endplay
Adjust the locknuts on the ends of the pivot shaft so that there is minimal endplay but so the pivots can still rotate easily on the shaft.
 The pivots may be a little stiff at first but once on the car they will loosen slightly.

[Junbug]

Those nuts don't get torqued. you just want to take out the slack. The manual says this:
Pivot endplay
Adjust the locknuts on the ends of the pivot shaft so that there is minimal endplay but so the pivots can still rotate easily on the shaft.
 The pivots may be a little stiff at first but once on the car they will loosen slightly.

Thanks John! Now that you quote it for me I see it plain as day. Thanks!

[cc2Arider]

Hi Bryan,

It looks like your Driver's side upper is initially set with the passenger side alignment dimensions. It looks like it needs to "lean back" like the passenger side...

Craig C

[mmklaxer]

Hey Bryan, Are you running power steering? Thought I remembered that. If so, you may want to trim down the rear UCA sleeve and threaded ends to enable the needed adjustments to get your caster.

[Junbug]

Hi Bryan,

It looks like your Driver's side upper is initially set with the passenger side alignment dimensions. It looks like it needs to "lean back" like the passenger side...

Craig C
Hi Craig, yes this was just the rough install. I still need to adjust for the baseline instruction manual alignment and likely trim the spacer and rod ends. Thanks!

[Junbug]

Hey Bryan, Are you running power steering? Thought I remembered that. If so, you may want to trim down the rear UCA sleeve and threaded ends to enable the needed adjustments to get your caster.

Hi Mike, Yes doing PS and I started trimming the sleeve on the DS last night. What did you use to cut the threaded ends? They seem like hardened steel and a challenge to cut?
-Bryan

[mmklaxer]

I used a hacksaw for those. Not too terribly difficult, ended up using that for the rear suspension as well to cut off the unused connections on the spindles. The instructions said to use a sawzall, but the blade jumped around too much to make it look half decent. that chewed up blades more than the fronts.

[Junbug]

So I completed installing the UCA, LCA, shocks, spindles, steering arms and hubs on the front end. Please critique and correct this beginners work! I haven't torqued anything to spec yet, just assembled and updated the rough alignment.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=178933&d=1675025976
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=178932&d=1675025976
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=178934&d=1675025976
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=178935&d=1675025976
I trimmed the ends off of the UCA rear adjustment collars, and my measurements come out within 1/16" of the rough guide (7-3/8")in the manual. Front side measurements of the UCA's are well within the spec (6-7/8").
Hubs are just a little beyond finger tight until I rent a 250 lb-ft torque wrench.
I added washers to the back of the steering arm bolts and I believe I installed them on the correct side with the right orientation.
Castle nuts are finger tight as well awaiting any "adjustments" or recommendations by those with more experience than me.
I plan on using a paint pen to mark all nuts once torqued.

[scrubs]

Can you elaborate a little more on the sleeve trim? I just mocked mine up and noted that the rear adjustment sleeves were maxed out in the shortening direction and just at the specs in the manual. This lack movement in one direction was concerning. I am planning on power steering as well.

Did you just trim those smooth ends of the sleeve?

Thx.

[facultyofmusic]

Here's a post from JohnK's build thread that goes over this topic: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?31167-Greek-Guys-Garage-Roadster-Build-9509-(MagCode-PowerPort-for-battery-charger)&p=360743&viewfull=1#post360743

[scrubs]

Here's a post from JohnK's build thread that goes over this topic: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?31167-Greek-Guys-Garage-Roadster-Build-9509-(MagCode-PowerPort-for-battery-charger)&p=360743&viewfull=1#post360743

Roger that. Thank you, sir.

[scrubs]

OK, I read a bunch of threads last night and thought I had it figured out. Decided to pop in the garage this AM pre-flight and I got more confused instead. I thought I followed the manual, but my F/R lengths were not the same on both sides. I applied the "Kleinert" modification of 9" front/7.75" read from grease fitting to respective pivot bolt. While I previously was concerned about no room to play in 1 arm per side, now I have room. The exposed threads are about 0.75".

Am I still wrong? Now I don't think I need a trim. Are my arms assembled wrong? Need some help. This shouldn't be this hard...


Drivers Pre:

178976


Driver post:

178977


PS Post:

178975

[Junbug]

OK, I read a bunch of threads last night and thought I had it figured out. Decided to pop in the garage this AM pre-flight and I got more confused instead. I thought I followed the manual, but my F/R lengths were not the same on both sides. I applied the "Kleinert" modification of 9" front/7.75" read from grease fitting to respective pivot bolt. While I previously was concerned about no room to play in 1 arm per side, now I have room. The exposed threads are about 0.75".

Am I still wrong? Now I don't think I need a trim. Are my arms assembled wrong? Need some help. This shouldn't be this hard...


Drivers Pre:

178976


Driver post:

178977


PS Post:

178975
Scrubs, As long as your front measurement and back measurements match each other you should be good (ie. Both front arms measure the same, and the back arms measure the same). I stuck with the measurements from the manual which should get me in the right ballpark for go-cart stage (Front 8.23”, rear 7-3/8”). What I did to get my rear measurements close to the recommended 7-3/8” was removed my rear adjusting sleeves and cut about 1/8”-1/4” off both ends. That gets me within 1/16” of the recommended 7-3/8”. My front arms were well within the recommended range and still had plenty of adjustment either way. I may remove the rear adjusting sleeves and trim the end of the threaded bolts later but it’s below 0 degrees in CO right now and my garage isn’t heated! That can wait a few days.