[DeTomaso] control arm bushings, thick shoulder in or out???

[Ken Green]

Hi Jack,
 
    They were on the car when I got it.  If the bushings were installed with the thick shoulders out as some suggested, they would not fit well into the ears of the front suspension, but fit very well with one thin and one thick out.  And I am moving the upper control arm back and the lower forward for a bit more caster.  
 
    Is there a know safe amount to have the upper ball joint milled on one side for more caster?
 
    How tight should the nuts be on these?  They are lock nuts, and I can add blue locktite, and I think that if I go too tight, the control arms won't move without a lot of force.
 
    Do I need to use an impact wrench for the steering ball joint nuts?  I'm not sure how to get the tapered stud to stop turning otherwise.
 
Thanks,
 
Ken


________________________________
From: "JDeRyke at aol.com" <JDeRyke at aol.com>
To: detomaso at realbig.com 
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 12:37 AM
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] control arm bushings, thick shoulder in or out???

Ken, normally asymmetric-shoulder bushings are designed to do exactly what 
you guessed: increase the caster angle. To that end, the fat shoulder will 
move the upright backwards if installed right. BOTH sets of bushings on the 
same a-arm should be installed the same- if one set has the fat part 
outboard, the other set should be done exactly the same on that a-arm. 
The thickness variation you describe is usually enough to add a little 
valuable caster if they're installed correctly. If you attempt to install them 
with the shoulders incorrect, the upright will not be shifted and/or things 
won't fit. Or perhaps you got parts of two different sets; I've seen about 
everything go wrong that can go wrong in this area. 
Call the vendor where you got the things and describe what happened. Have 
him clarify his installation procedure for you. And shame on him for not 
including clear enough directions with the bushing set. Good luck- J Deryke
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