Front Suspension Questions Round 2

[Gizmosrcool]

Hi Everyone

The front suspension has me a little baffled. Mostly due to the orientation. I have looked at tons of builds and pictures and need to get a few things straight in my brain. A few questions.

1. Front lower control arms. Is there a LH arm vs a RH arm? Or are they the same?

2. Front upper control arm - Same question. They seem the same. Are they the same? or is there a LH and RH?

3. Ball joint. The kit came with a supreme chassis part ball joint by Mevtech. I recall folks saying this may not be the best and there is another brand that is recommended. Is there?

4. Orientation. The picture is the RH side. I think this is correct? If so. I have power steering. I think I should trim one of the side doodads. Correct? Which one? The back one? or the front one?

Appreciate it. Thx. Tom

[Jeff Kleiner]

1. They are the same.

2. They are the same.

3. There is nothing wrong with the kit supplied ball joints. Some think there is when they have difficulty installing them into the upper control arms...if the coating is cleaned off of the ball joint threads (wire wheel works great) they'll screw in easily.

4. Doesn't appear correct in the photo. You may need to break the components down to and reassemble them into the proper configuration:
---The grease zerks on the cross shaft links should point up.
---The ball joint should angle outward when installed into the ball joint plate.
---The welded leg of the arm will be at the front on the drivers side and to the rear on the passenger side.
---To achieve somewhere around 8 degrees of positive caster which is desiredfor power steering the rear adjusting sleeve (c'mon, it ain't a doodad or gizmo :p) needs to be shortened approximately 1/4" each end. Also cut a similar amount from the male threads on the stubs that it mates with so that they don't bottom out internally.

Hope that helps!

Jeff

[retiredinalabama]

1) The lowers are the same
2)The upper control arms are the same as shipped but need to be adjusted and oriented differently as covered on pages 36-37 of the manual.
3) Can't help here
4) I trimmed mine, like many have, because I couldn't get it to the measure measurement in the manual. I trimmed the tapered part on both ends of the rear link. I also trimmed about 1/4" of of the threaded end that go into the adjusting sleeve.

[Gizmosrcool]

Ahh. Ok. They came assembled. I’ll put more time in the manual and the diagrams. Thx Jeff and bama dude!

[Gizmosrcool]

I think I have it. The upper control arm is the same for both sides. What is different is the length of front vs the rear. The front is longer. It is recommended to take 1/4 of both sides of the rear sleeve and the threaded parts to achieve the recommended length for power steering cars. Sound right?

I’ll use the included ball joints. I searched more and folks focused on the boots. I may get a set of the other boots. They are $9.

Anyone know where the hardware is for the upper control arms? The lowers have their own bag. I did not see one for the uppers? Or is this where I start looking through the main fastener pack?

I’ll work on cutting down the sleeves today And getting the front suspension in over the weekend.

Thx. Tom

[Namrups]

I am building a Coupe but the hardware should be the same. Here is a list of what is needed based on my inventory list which was generated before the IT changeover at FF.

Coupe complete kit IFS components (15344)
2 – Adjustable front upper control arms (15501)
2 – Upper ball joints (14897)
4 – 1/2”-20 x 1 3/4” flanged head bolts (15138)
4 – 1/2”-20 lock nuts (12218)
2 – 1/2”-13 x 3 1/4” coil-over upper mounting bolts (12386)
2 – 1/2”-13 x 2 3/4” coil-over lower mounting bolts (10842)
4 – 1/2”-13 nylon lock nuts (10834)
10 – 1.2” SAE washers (13976)
4 - .675” top front coil-over spacers (15387)
4 - .43” bottom front coil-over spacers (15388)

I have put together a post listing my inventory list for my coupe at https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?44549-Inventory-parts-list

I have also put together a where used list at https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?44968-Coupe-fastener-pack-where-used-list

[Gizmosrcool]

Hi Everyone

Here is my PS front suspension. I think I am close. Nothing is locked down yet. Finger tight. I struggle with the instructions as the parts and fasteners documentation are lacking. Namrups (Scott) was kind to provide details from his build, but that is the old system and the current one does not have individual numbers on part bags in the master pack. Each bag has the same part number. For me it is looking at a lot of pictures and asking repetitive questions.

1. Here is my lower control arm

182371

According to the manual, it's just a thick washer at the rear to take up space. That makes sense. there are no washers under the head of the bolt. And no washers at the nut. Correct? The front has almost enough space for a thin washer. I could push the left tab out a tiny bit, slide a washer in, and tighten it up. Or I just put the nut on, tighten, and the left tab will pull in. Do I worry about it or just put the nut on and pull it tight?

2. Here is my upper control arm

182373

I cut down the rear sleeve and its close to measurements. That was some tough steel. I wire wheeled the ball joint and it went in like butter. The ball joint tilts out. This look right?

182375

3. Here is the spindle and steering arm

182377

I am not 100% sure on the bolts for the arm. I used a process of elimination. The arm is bent slightly out. I think that is the way it goes. Again no washers. And the taper is at the bottom. That look ok?

4. The shocks were easy to assemble. Just like the lowers. No washers? Actually, on page 43 in the manual. The top picture shows a washer on the outside and would be under the head of the bolt. The picture below, shows no washer. The washers or lack of washers is confusing. I am used to using washers everywhere.

5. The hub is next. The ABS ring is not needed, and I have a press, and I can take it off. That ok?

6. How about wheel studs? I know the rears need to be replaced. the instructions say nothing on the fronts. They good to go?

Thx in advance for your feedback and advice. Once I get this sorted, I'll update my build to reflect what I have learned. I am learning a lot.

Thx, Tom.

[Jeff Kleiner]

1. The metal sleeve that goes through the center of the bushing is what gets captured by the chassis tabs and when necessary the shim washer. If you can pull the tabs tight to the metal sleeve without squeezing the bushing you're OK...if not add a shim washer.

2. Looks good. Here is an initial measurement to get you pretty close to the preferred power steering settings of 8 degrees positive caster and approximately .5 degree negative camber.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=182387&d=1666032431

3. Correct, angled outward with the wide end of the taper down.

4. Did you check the rebound setting of the shocks before assembling them?

5. Builder's choice to leave it or remove (assuming you don't plan to incorporate ABS).

6. Front studs are already 1/2-20 and do not get changed.

Carry on!

Jeff