68/C3 Strut rod question.

[Joe R.]

Re: 68/C3 Strut rod question.

Hi Terry:

Your comments about the inner sleeve have got me thinking. FYI, though, the Paragon replacement (which may be a GM service part) has a split inner sleeve.

I don't recall whether the original sleeves in my strut rods were split. I *might* be able to retreive them from the trash barrel they went into at the time. I'll see if I can find them.

While I understand your concern about the sleeve spreading and/or rotating, I'm not sure the forces involved would be likely to do that. The whole thing is wrapped in rubber, so the forces that would cause this would have to be transmitted through the rubber bushing. I'm not sure the rubber could transfer sufficient force to make either of those problems occur.

I also don't think that the sleeve rotating against the teeth would cause a change in camber. To chance camber, the cam bolt at the differential would have to rotate.

Anyway, these are just my thoughts. I hope I can locate one of my old sleeves and examine it more carefully.

[Terry F.]

Re: 68/C3 Strut rod question.

I don't know for sure either. The teeth on the end of the center bushing have the purpose of biting into the steel to keep from rotating or coming loose. If the bushing comes loose and starts to rotate on either the cam bolt or shock mount I believe it will stess the inner steel bushing in ways it was not intended to take. If the split in the bushing was located in line with longitudinal forces on the strut rod the cam bolt MIGHT be able to pull through the bushing. I think the bushings on the strut rods where intended to work something like the front A-frame bushings. All the flexion should be in the rubber and not on the bolt.

I know that if I rebuild some small ended strut rods I will be looking at the setup closer. If I go with the original looking replacement bushing I will look at possibly reusing the original center steel bushing or finding some seamless one's.

I am probably making a mountain out of a mole hill.

I believe the pictures I have of the early and later strut rods both are seamless inner steel bushings. The repro strut rods were split. If you want pictures, let me know and I will send them to you. Just email me.

Best regards, Terry