Help Yoda is trying to kill me - I need front end help - Page 2

Gary_N · October 4th, 2009

Well in case anyone is interested, I managed to get the passenger side steering knuckle relatively lined up. Had to move the lower control arm about 3/16ths. I hope these cars have some wiggle room. Anyway, I find that as you tighten the upper pivot pin bushing, the steering knuckle support moves and changes the alignment to the lower control arm. It seems like it shouldn't move but it does. I guess its supposed to do that but makes for a hard time to get things aligned...that is....if you want everything centered. Driver's side was much easier until I discovered that the replacement lower control arm I bought is the wrong side. Now I'm pretty much dead in the water. Unless....(the original lower control arm is bend in at shaft side about a 1/4 inch) I can somehow 'press' the original lower control arm into shape. Can that be done?? Would it be safe? I was going to try heat and a hammer and was talked out of that. A mechanic friend told me that could make the arm brittle.

Of course, if I wasn't trying to rush it all together to get to Hershey, none of this would have happened. Ah well....maybe I still have a shot if I can find a not very busy machine shop on the way to the office tomorrow. I'm really thinking you need to be retired to ever get an old car together. All this working for a living stuff is getting in the way!

Thanks for the ears!

Gary

trp3141592 · October 4th, 2009

Hi Gary,

I would very STRONGLY advise against heat-altering your steering parts and suspension parts as a very real safety issue. Remember, everything you need for your car is available or rebuildable. Your life and others' lives are not.

Auto workers put these things together at the factory on an assembly line, so it certainly can be done without altering the parts. If you have incorrect parts or have them in incorrect orientation, then stop, investigate, see what fits, and remember that it was done originally in a matter of less than a minute or two. You have more time available--take that time to get it the way it was built to be. If need be, find another '50 Buick owner and get photos or an in-your-face inspection.

And--if you want a really memorable suspension and steering adventure, just try aligning front end parts on a Cord!

--Tom

Gary_N · October 4th, 2009

Tom, I get that. Not going to heat anything. I was trying to drive to Hershey on Thursday. Looks like the wrong control arm will kill that deal. But, control arms are easy to find. I assume the car that gave me the wrong side had the other waiting for me.

Gary

special55 · October 4th, 2009

Hey Gary,

What luck

It's bad enough half the new parts that are manufactured to supposed factory specs don't fit but to get the wrong side control arm? YIKES

I don't have any experience with your shock set up. Mine has tube front shocks. I can't believe the trouble you are having getting these things centered. Mine were a pain but they lined up with minimal agrivation.

I hope things work out for you so you can still make Hershey.

Best of luck,
Rich

Gary_N · October 4th, 2009

Rich: As far as the new parts go, 1/2 of the parts I bought were suspect. Bushings in particular. I wasted hours fighting with the 'new parts'. This project has taught me that rusty NOS parts are better than supposed new ones. I bought the control arm from a yard in OK. I asked for the drivers side and got the passenger side. Unfortunately, like a dummy, I didn't check to see that the part was correct. I even sand blasted, primed and painted. It was staring me in the face the whole time. And to add insult to injury, after blasting and painting the wheels and installed the new tires, I found one of the wheels was bent.

Of the six new brakes line, five were wrong. I guess I wasted about $500 on these parts. I don't mind spending money....I just hate wasting it.

I'm going to back off and not rush. The fitments thing is driving me crazy. I need to get it correct. Hershey will still be fun, just without Yoda. I don't like the way the steering knuckle (support I guess) sits inside the yoke of the upper control arms. It seems to me it should not move once the pin is in and clamped. The left side bushing tightens up nice, but the right side bushing moves the whole support when you tighten it. Doesn't make sense to me. I'm going to take it apart again. I hate to pull the spring since I just got it in. Springs make me nervous. I wrap chain around a coil and the control arm just in case they come flying out.

I see you have a big block Vette. Love those. I have a Z06 in the garage. I was racing for awhile. Looking forward to getting back on the road course!!

Gary

special55 · October 4th, 2009

Gary,

My luck hasn't been quite that bad. Although it did seem like the front end stuff was what I had the most problems getting the right parts for.

I had very good luck with my brake lines. I used Inline Tube here in Michigan and they fit with very little adjustment. I would recomend them for any of your future projects.

Have fun at Hershey and if you see any good looking 55 Chrome give me a shout

Rich

trp3141592 · October 4th, 2009

Hi Gary,

AMEN to the safety chain around the main spring!

Next step is to get a lathe and a milling machine. As my dad used to say to my infinitely patient mother, "You just can't run a household without a lathe and a mill." I would add to that quote, "...and a MiG welder, a set of torches, compressed air, a planisher, a bead-blasting cabinet..."

I can't wait for an excuse to get a plasma cutter and maybe a drive-on lift.

--Tom

Gary_N · October 5th, 2009

Tom, I have a lift. Bought a used Rotary. It was cheap. And, I could never do this without one. If I have to be under a car, I'd rather stand! I'd love a lathe and a mill.....just wouldn't know how to use either!

Gary

Gary_N · October 14th, 2009

As a follow up and a shocking surprise, if you READ the shop manual and actually follow what it says, suspension parts seems to magically line up as intended. Another few years and I may just get this right!

Thanks for the ears.

Gary

special55 · October 14th, 2009

So what part of the procedure did you deviate from?

It might benefit others in the future if you let us know.

Glad to hear you are getting past it though.

Good luck with the rest of your repairs,

Rich