[DeTomaso] Front suspension - Disassembly, Day 1

[Forest Goodhart]

Asa,
The lower ball joint is the one that takes the load. The upper one just 
holds the upright vertical. I would be willing to wager that the uppers are 
good. As I recall this is all due to a bad shake while driving. I have had a 
bad shake a few times and in each case it was a tire out of round. Bushings 
and ball joints don't typically cause shaking.
Good luck,
Forest
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Asa Jay Laughton" <asajay at asajay.com>
To: <deTomaso at realbig.com>
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 9:07 PM
Subject: [DeTomaso] Front suspension - Disassembly, Day 1


> Well, I got the Pantera positioned and in the air for a long stay.  Not
> a restoration kind of stay but a while nonetheless.
>
> Thanks to SOBills wise tutelage, I removed the lower ball joint from the
> lower a-arm and the shock came right out.  Mind you I -did- take the
> brake caliper off first.  I then unbolted the sway bar from both ends
> which allowed the drivers side to swing freely.
>
> Initial appraisal of the drivers side:
> - Lower bushings seem to be tight, no clunking, and plenty of rubbery
> resistance through the range of motion.
> - Upper bushing seem to be okay as well, similar feel and reactions.
> - Lower ball joint:  I can position the lower ball in just the right
> spot that I get a dry metal-to-metal clunk, I think it needs replacing.
> - Upper ball joint still has the front spindle hanging from it so it's
> harder for me to tell.  But I -can- tell you the boot is -shot-.
>
> So, at the very least, I'm in for new ball joints.  And as I'm in here,
> I'm still considering doing the bushings, but I'll wait till I have it
> all apart first.  I'm not doing any restorations just yet, simply
> keeping it on the road. :)
>
> Asa Jay
>
> Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
>
> & Shelley Marie
> Spokane, WA
>
> 1973 Pantera L 5533
> [ASASCAT]
>
> ******************************
> http://www.asajay.com
> http://www.351c.info
>
>
>
>
> MikeLDrew at aol.com wrote:
>>
>> In a message dated 7/29/07 17 37 22, asajay at asajay.com writes:
>>
>>
>>> You bring up a good point Mike.  While under the car doing a general
>>> inspection, I noted my steering rack rebuild is leaking quite
>>> profusely.  The first problem is that the passenger side boot has worn
>>> itself a hole near the clamp.
>>
>> >>>Yet another reason to use grease instead of oil, as Ferrari does
>> (using the same rack).
>>
>>
>>> Second problem is that the pinion seal
>>> needs to be replaced (something Larry Stock didn't have on the truck
>>> that weekend we rebuilt it at Roger's place).
>>
>> >>>Again, not a factor when grease is the chosen lube.
>>
>>
>>>   And it looks like the
>>> opposite cover is probably leaking too.  Argh, I guess that's what I get
>>> for jacking the car up. :)
>>>
>> >>>Well, if you yank the rack out (which will only take a few more
>> minutes since apparently you're changing all the ball joints?), it's a
>> fairly simple procedure to open it up, clean it out, replace the oil
>> with the appropriate grease (CRC engine assembly lube, 0-1/2 weight,
>> comes in a black tube, available in tiny tubes at most auto parts
>> stores, and mongo-sized tubes at some of them), then put it all back
>> together.
>>
>>> I made note of your comments about the steering u-joints.  They did seem
>>> to be in good shape, but now with the car in the air I can do a proper
>>> inspection on both the inside ones and the outside ones.  Thanks for the
>>> tip.
>>
>> >>>Have Shelly very, very gently wiggle the steering wheel from side
>> to side, while you are under the car, and examine the bottom U-joint.
>> On my car, upstream rotation initially was seen as a twist/bend in the
>> U-joint itself, before it locked up and then transmitted the rotation
>> downstream.  The U-joint was also rattling-loose on the splined shaft
>> because the bolt which had been used to secure it, was totally
>> stripped.  You should be able to see unwanted movement of the U-joint
>> inside the car yourself, by kneeling outside the car, peering under
>> the dash and gently wiggling the wheel.
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
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