C1 (1960) Front Suspension rebuild

[Donald H.]

I'm trying to take the front suspension apart on my 1960 project. I am using the excellent document that Tom Parsons provided. I am to the point of taking the lower A-frame outer shaft/bolt out. I was looking at Tom's notes, the ST-12 and the AIM. What I have discovered is that someone in the past seems to have put the outer shaft/bolt in backwards. I have a picture attached that shows the end of the bolt with the grease fitting on the front side of the A-frame. The ST-12 doesn't have a good picture but references taking the fitting and bolt out the back side. All of the pictures from Tom's notes show retaining nut on the front side of the A-frame and the grease fitting on the back side.

Can I just proceed to unscrew the shaft/bolt from the front side? I can't seem to get it to budge and don't want to damage anything. Assuming I am right and it is in backwards, has it done any harm to the A-frame or Spindle? I may not have been drive this way, as the car has been sitting for 5-7 years during a restoration.

Thanks,
Don

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 (1960) Front Suspension rebuild

Don, Yes Tom's write up is great....I used it as a refresher course recently myself.

Yes they put them in backwards, but.......the threads are not tapered and it's ok to just go ahead and remove them. Add some penetrating fluid to help. The torque spec(from memory is 100+ lbs/ft), so they will be tight. When you get the new ones insert from the rear as the ST-12 says and you should be fine.
Rich

Driver's Side Rear View



Passenger's Side Rear View

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 (1960) Front Suspension rebuild

Thanks Richard,

I actually "borrowed" your pictures from an early thread also. Did you by change use the suspension parts from Paragon when you did your rebuild? I am thinking of order their front suspension rebuild kit as I know I will replace the King Pins, Tie Rods ends and rods, etc. Paragon is the only supplier that I can find that has tie rod ends with the grease fitting on the side instead of the bottom.

Thanks for the respons.

Don

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 (1960) Front Suspension rebuild

......no, I used the kit from Zip Products. This project doesn't require 100% correctness. It would be like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

[Tom P.]

Re: C1 (1960) Front Suspension rebuild

As mentioned, on the tierod ends, the CORRECT configuration is with the grease fitting on the side rather than on the bottom. But another advantage of having the grease fitting on the side instead of the bottom is that there is less possibility of the grease fitting getting damaged.

The bolt can go in either way with ZERO problems. The reason for installing it with the grease fitting toward the rear is to reduce the possibility of moisture or debis getting into the grease fitting as the car goes down the road, or damage caused to the fitting from a flying rock. Otherwise, it makes no difference at all.
Oh ya, and while we're on the subject of the lower-outer shaft, SAVE THE OLD NUT, YOU MAY NEED IT!!!! I've noticed recently that some of the replacement lower-outer shafts are NOT being packaged with a new nut! And last, over the years, I've seen SOME cars (Vettes as well as 49-54 pass car) with an insede star lock washer under the nut. In the past, some replacement lower-outer shaft kits have them and some don't. I do not know if the lockwasher was factory installed, but when available, I always use the lock washer.