Subject: Re: IML: A-arm Bushings
and Torsion Bar Adjustment
>
Hello to all of you that helped me with the mysterous lowered 1960 Imperial
> ! > > Today I was finally able to have a look at the car,
since it was dry after 2 > weeks of rain... > > After the
jacking the car up with the frontwheels from the ground and > securing
the frame with axle stands, I closely examinend the lower front >
suspension arm and especially the bushing of the arm. Everything looks great
> to me, then I had a look at the rear crossmember : you know, where the
> torsionbar anchors are located. > > This section was OK
too, so I thought what the heck: lets try to turn those >
adjusters! > > I was warned by a couple members not to strip the
fine threads of the bolts > and the swivels since they normally are very
dificult turn. > > Guess what ? They were both quite easy to
turn, ok I needed a large bar for > my socket to turn those adjuster
bolts but was still able to turn them with > one hand only! >
> I turned both of them 4 turns clockwise (turned them 'in' so to speak),
I > lowered the car again to check my work and surprise, surprise the
front end > was 2 inches higher now! > I decided that I was still
lacking 2 inches of ground play in the front so I > jacked up the car
again and gave those adjusters another 4 turns . > > And after 8
turns on both adjusters the car has now the right front end ride >
height! > I don't know why I had to adjust the height so much, and don't
know why the > car has dropped in the first place but I am very happy
that the car could be > adjusted to its correct height so easy! >
> I already made a test drive and the car even handles better then
before! > Especially the straight line stability is much better now the
front is > raised by 4 inches ( noticable from speeds of 55 mph and
higher), and it > looks a lot better too :) > > All of you
that have helped me with this isue: a big thank you and lots of >
kudo's!! > > This is one great List!! > > Have a nice
weekend, > > Robert > ----- Original Message ----- >
From: <randalpark@xxxxxxx> > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2007 4:01
PM > Subject: Re: IML: A-arm Bushings and Torsion Bar Adjustment >
> > My shop has been able to make the correct adjustments to all
of my > Imperials without damaging any parts. This seems to have more to
do > with the skill level of the shop than the age of the car. I
understand > that there may not be many shops in Europe that are familiar
with a '60 > Imperial. Still, there must be shops that specialize in
front > suspension work. A good shop would look over the car, determine
what > parts were needed, and then give you a list. They wouldn't
take > anything apart (a tie up their space) until you came back with what
was > required. I think a good shop could study the manual and figure
out > your car. > > Unless you are inclined to want to do
this yourself, I think it is > worth looking for a GOOD shop that is
willing to work on your car. > > Paul W. > > >
-----Original Message----- > From: Rob van der Es <R.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Sent: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 12:12 am >
Subject: Re: IML: A-arm Bushings and Torsion Bar Adjustment > >
> > Hmmm, > > > > That is indeed the
last option to choose from :) > > I will take care not to damage
anything I promise, but then this stuff > is 47 years old... >
> At least I hope these bolts don't break while turning them after
Lord > knows how many years.. > > > > Thanks
again and lots of kuddo's to all, > > > > Rob >
> > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Frederick
Joslin > > To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2007 2:47
AM > > Subject: Re: IML: A-arm Bushings and Torsion Bar
Adjustment > > > > > Hi Robert: >
> > > I was going to put this in the previous post but
chose not to. > > You can get new over sized bolts and drill and
tap the anchors to fit > the new bolts. > > This is probably
the last option that you want to take, but it would > work. >
> Also, if you go this way you can use metric stuff if you want. >
> > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Rob van
der Es" > To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: Re: IML: A-arm Bushings and Torsion
Bar Adjustment > Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 22:49:46 +0200 > >
> Thanks a lot Fred!, > > > > But what if I
strip the threads of the anchors then? I am not to > worried about the
bolts you see, a good hardware dealer can supply > those I am
sure. > > > > But are those T-bar anchors still
available? > > Does anyone have a source in case I need
them? > > Ofcourse I can ask Lowell or Bob, but if I prefer new
ones, are they > still available ? > > > >
Thanks again, > > > > Rob > > >
----- Original Message ----- > > From: Frederick Joslin >
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 5:27
PM > > Subject: Re: IML: A-arm Bushings and Torsion Bar
Adjustment > > > > > Robert: > >
I believe that you can fully remove the adjuster bolts and then replace >
them with no problem. I would apply penetrating oil and then remove > them
from the car. It is easier to remove them than tighten them if > they are
a littl fouled. Clean up the threads with solvent and a wire > brush and
check the condition. > > > > When adjusting the
height up count the number of turns it takes. If > both torsion bars are
in about the same condition, it should take close > to the same number of
turns for a level front end. You can adjust the > bolts with the front end
off the ground and then lower it to chech the > ride height. I would
suggest this since it put less stress on the bolts > (and on you). >
> Note that you may have some "worn out" threads especially from
rust, > but if they are in a section of the bolt that you do not need to
"bite" > into for your ride height that will not matter. What you have to
do is > get past that section. This is not ideal, but if it is all you
can > do........ > > > > > -----
Original Message ----- > From: "Rob van der Es" > To:
mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: Re: IML: A-arm Bushings and Torsion
Bar Adjustment > Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:34:35 +0200 > >
> Hello again Joe, > > Thanks for your kind
suggestions! > > I will certainly take care not to strip
the > fine threads of the adjuster bolts and the > anchors. >
I will clean them thoroughly and soak them for a while with penetrating >
oil. > > I have had a long search for replacement bolts > and
anchors but I haven't found any .. > So I hope that my adjusters are not
stripped > already , causing the low front end! > > Ofcourse
I will have a look at the front lower > suspension arms too while I am
there, just to > make sure that the bushings are still there and >
in good condition. > > Thanks again, > >
Robert > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe >
Strickland" > To: "Imperial Mail List" > Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007
3:42 PM > Subject: IML: A-arm Bushings and Torsion Bar Adjustment >
> >> Rob; >> >> Before you begin adjusting
your torsion bars, >> see if you can clean the threads of
the >> adjusting bolts with some brake cleaner or >> perhaps
kerosene to get as much dirt etc. off >> of the threads as possible.
Use of an old >> toothbrush or something similar might
help. >> Then use a liberal application of penetrating >> oil
on the adjusting bolts and levers and let >> them soak for a day or so
before trying to >> make the adjustments. You might want to >>
re-apply the penetrating oil to the bolts >> more than one time. It may
be a real problem >> if you stripped threads on the bolts
and/or >> the adjusting arm of the torsion bars. You >> might
be able to find replacements, but there >> could be a long time to find
replacements. >> >> Be sure to examine the A-arm bushings
for >> missing chunks or completely gone bushings. >> As I
mentioned before when these bushings >> disintegrate and fall out it
allows the >> associated metal parts of the A-arms and >>
steering elements to shift position enough >> that the steering parts
(especially the idler >> arm and the steering pitman arm) to
shift >> position and get in quite a bind while >> steering
the car. You certainly don't want >> to wind up with a broken idler arm
stud or >> pitman arm stud while driving down the road! >>
Complete loss of control might result, with a >> crash into another car
or into a pedestrian >> or bicycle rider. >> >> Joe
S. >> >> >> ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- >> This message was sent
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> ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- > This message was sent to
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> Fred Joslin > > > > > >
> > > Fred Joslin > > > >
>
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