tubular lower control arm spring locater?

Teich · Addicted!

tubular lower control arm spring locater?

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

That spring looks like it has an awful lot of arc to it, is it centered and seated at the top? Whats your ride height like???maybe remove the lower spring insulator?

Paulish · Guru

X2 on the lower insulator... You shouldn't need it.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Imop, ditch the isolators...and the standard coils and shocks...

QA1 hybrids for the 58-64 GM B body.

I know, I know....Kind of way out there price wise at $549 USD, but imagine the adjustability. And With the beehive taper, I don't think they's rub.

Actually a good set of custom Eaton coils would be $250 USD anyway, and then good shocks? Must admit, it's great this stuff is even available for our cars now.

Cheers,

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Moog 6004's are heavy duty for the x frames. They are the stance I like- need a set for the 63. Available at NAPA etc.

Teich · Addicted!

Looking again the spring is not centered, the upper and lower ends of spring are called a pigtail, after being wound the ends are not bent or tapered so as to make a flat end on spring as the QA-1 spring. Top and bottom seat are designed with a taper to put this pigtail into. On the tubular arms the spring seat is flat, the special seat is the red insulator so i guess it has to be there. Thinking about two things now replace bushing oem arms or make a new lower seat from steel that will center the spring and not collapse like the red urethane ones. Those QA-1 springs sure look good only 35% higher here! I think the oem arms have the spring at a curve but not as much as the photo. Laurie Just checked QA 1 $440.00 at Speedway Vise card may be in trouble!

-- Edited by Teich on Wednesday 30th of March 2016 08:54:19 PM

Teich · Addicted!

I now have the spring out, the cup where the red seat sits is about 5/8" larger than the spring red cup looks like its supposed to center spring, its a cup with a side on it. When I installed the spring the top pigtail was alined with indent in top seat rotated the red cup so its indent fit spring, the way it fit the pigtail was of to one side to the rear the wind of the spring came around to the ball joint side but is now to high up to register on the cup so it moves out toward the ball joint and the spring then rubs on the frame at top. I believe that the spring with all the oem parts bowes the same as the photo only not quite as much. By checking the upper seat and the one in the lower control arm one of the pigtails will not be in the so called right place. Thinking of a metal spacer to center the spring and some kind of land for the pigtail so it wont break the spring. The ride height seemed good level side to side front to back alright Not sure which spring it is according to length it's either a 6000 or 6004, wire diameter(.630) does not show up in Moog list guessed by height approx 18 3/4". Laurie

Teich · Addicted!

After a lot of looking and measurement the original lower control arms are gong back on! The spring pockets in the tubular ones are to big would have to make a steel cup with a ramp for the spring, those QA-1 s look real nice but so does the price right now they would be the best fix Laurie

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Disappointing to say the least, I'm sure.

I don't get into doing mods like this very much but when you buy a product you assume the homework would have been done before it hit the market. Not always the case I guess.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Yes Carl, it is disappointing, but the reality is a lot of these so called performance aftermarket parts are not very well thought out at all.

I have global west uppers and lowers on my 67, and I swear the lower perches are about 1" higher than stock. So naturally, I now need to spend another 700 on Hybrid coilovers to make it sit right. Perhaps this is their goal anyway lol!

Laurie, is the rubbing so bad It cant be lived with? It might actually settle out a little.

Teich · Addicted!

Thinking about these lower arms now, kinda late!, they are made for air bags hence the large "spring pocket" an air bag would fit nice! The red spacer/also located is not up to the job, the oem arm has a tapered pocket so when spring is at the bottom it is supported ie can not move also has raised lip on the side towards center of car to help hold spring. now I wonder why I bought these, I guess they look "neat" I put on the uppers as I want the extra castor they fit better in all respects. About the rubbing hind sight---- all assembled no shocks I try to bounce car not bounce just like good shocks ride height is great level I'm thinkin great put in the shocks, drive it seems all right. After drive back in shop I check things over spring looks to far out at bottom look up both sides rubbing on the frame now I can hear it, I guess this is why it didn't bouce with no shocks. I think with driving as it was the spring would work it's way out even farther. Hope to have the Pontiac together early this week It needs exercise!!! Laurie

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I think the intention of the poly spring pocket, was to have it rotate slightly when the springs winds up or down. The instructions (on mine at least) was to coat the underside of the poly and the pocket with grease. Looking at your photos, your spring diameter actually looks like it might be too large for the pocket leaving the spring riding on the arm a little. Are those the original springs for the car? The wire looks kind of thick.

Teich · Addicted!

I am quite sure those are the original springs,third owner of car, last owner had since 1989 the car originally came from Winnipeg (1962-89). First I head of lubrication of insert, I read that it was so you could shorten the spring and rotate the insert to line up with spring pigtail, may of head this on Global West video ???? . When you have spring out it fits the insert properly after all assembled the sides of the insert won't hold spring where it should. I believe the original lower arm had the spring at a arc should know next week. Laurie

Teich · Addicted!

The bushing install! Went to front end shop that has been in business 40yrs, asked twice if he had all the pushers etc. needed to change bushings oh yes had it all, so in they went checked on them a few times was busy thats ok, went yesterday one is done,so to speak, that was the one I took bushings out cut the shaft because I thought It would be bad bushing worn real bad expected shaft to be toast and it wasn't! The guy didn't have any of the proper tools just hammer chisel and big socket for driver. The arm that was done wasn't good brought it home it,arm was bent from driving the bushings in, seen the other at the shop, didn't look nice hammer and chisel all over bushings . Fixed the first one straightened the arm spot weld on bushing flange to prevent rotation look good now. Started early this morning still fussing over the bushings, dropped rims of for powder coat, still wasn't sure,ended up went to the shop got the other arm didn't look nice sorry no photos. Now to fix, burnt the rubber out heated outer bushing shell drove it in to collapse it and it came out both did this way and didn't even bend anything. Now to install, cleaned the holes broke the edge of the hole smoothed the sharpe edge, I was lucky I guess drove in both bushings properly. Back to Canadian Tire tonight to rent spring compressor again, I'll be busy tomorrow!! Laurie

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Front end work always has it's twists and turns. It's rarely easy. Good luck and work safe Laurie.

koolconvertible · Poncho Master!

I have a small inexpensive press which works well for all sorts of things including suspension bushings. It was a good investment. paid for itself over and over. Last used it to do all my suspension work. Worked a treat!

Teich · Addicted!

The springs are in! Decided I don't like spring work compressor slipped/rotated so fast just a little dust and noise it released its shelf bottom retainer turned turned so fast like " magic" it's undone! fingers all good. Now springs sit nice do everthing good except now cars not level dam!!! was lower on the right but the worn bushings I thought were the problem, going to drive up and down road over the wash board see if one will settle, think new springs are the answer! Now which ones Moog 6004 6000 or 658A ? 1st. one 200 lbs heaver,rate is 25lbs more last is 200lbs lighterbut spring rate is 100 lbs heavier a good cornering one. Car is 1962 Pontiac Parisienne 4dr hardtop V8 auto. Had a older Moog paper catalogue but didn't list the car, The ones I have are for same year Impala. Laurie

Teich · Addicted!

Great happiness ! springs are in car is level and still have all fingers intact. Kinda eye openner when you have the spring in your hands and the spring compressor lets go. Ended up using the NAPA match to Moog 6000 Laurie

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Oh ouch, those compressors are scary. I'm glad you are ok.

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Good to see you got it figured out and fixed without loosing any fingers.

Teich · Addicted!

Front suspension except, for sway bar done, alignment done and the car steers real nice even with no sway bar, that's next after new pinion and wheel bearings. Laurie

-- Edited by Teich on Tuesday 3rd of May 2016 04:22:18 PM

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I am putting the Addco 1 inch on mine shortly.

Teich · Addicted!

Back in the spring game again. Took the front springs out of 59 Pontiac 2dr HT that I'm going to scrap/give away when I'm done. no excitement this time no spring compressor either. Car on stands removed the sway bar links and tire,jack under lower control arm at the spring ran jack up until car lifted a little removed bolts from lower control arm shaft got the spring out with no flying parts etc, just seemed to easy no excitement like last time! putting it together with a piece of pipe to replace spring so I can move car around. Laurie

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Well that was a boring post......Just kidding!!! biggrin Glad to see you didn't have a headache like the last go around.