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

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/19/12 14 10 38, kenn_green at yahoo.com writes:


>   They were on the car when I got it. 
> 
>>>So somebody may have purchased an offset bushing kit, whose 
characteristics are different from standard bushings.

>  >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. 
> 
>>>There you go--that sounds like Marino's offset bushing setup.
>  
>  >   Is there a know safe amount to have the upper ball joint milled on 
> one side for more caster?
>  
> >>>Most people use .100" as a good, safe and easy-to-remember number.

> >    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.
> 
>>>Very true.   People make the mistake of cranking down on these nuts, and 
create undue drag on the suspension which interferes with free movement.   

The shop manual says 58 ft/lbs, which is not such a lot.   I typically 
torque my wheel lug nuts to 75 ft/lbs, so that gives a bit of comparison.
>  
>  >   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.
>  
> >>>You can hammer the tie rod end downward into the tapered hole and create 
enough friction to then let you tighten the nut with a conventional wrench. 
  But if you have impact available, that would be easier.

Cheers!

Mike