At the rear axle - questions...

[garment]

No task for my suspension refresh moves forward without a Q&A from this board...

Q1: The point of the attachment of the drop link to the trailing arm calls for a 70mm bolt. I tried running the original bolt into the threads, but the bolt gets hard to move still showing about 1/2" of threads (ahead of the shoulder of the bolt). I've not chased the threads yet (chase set is on order, I didn't want to use a tap and risk the threads). Should the bolt be that hard to insert?

Q2: See the bushing for my 18mm rear sway bar (I know the bushing is on the wrong side of the stop). Should this much gap be present? And if so, are there any tricks for installation?

Thanks, Pelicans!

[steely]

I did mine a couple years ago and can't recall if I had the drop link bolt get tight on me - I know its happened with some bolts. I also don't know if you are running into any residual dirt or thread lock material. Try using a tooth brush and or some compressed air or solvent (brake or carb cleaner). Be careful as it will damage painted surfaces, and if you spray it in the hole it will come back out hard, so cover the hole with a rag.

unrelated tip - consider adding your model year to you 'signature'.

My new and old sway bushings looked the same (with the gap).

[Kidasters]

answer to Q1 - No. You need to clean out/chase the threads. When I did my drop links, I remember using new bolts.

answer to Q2 - That doesn't look right. On my car - the bushings completely covered the swaybar with no gap. Those bushings look too small.

[steely]

The bushings separate a bit and the gap closes when completely installed/compressed. Even the ~30 yo originals open up when removed.

[garment]

Thanks for the replies. Appreciate the help with questions about my '83SC

Follow up question - does the drop link connection point have a "floating" nut or other capture mechanism in the trailing arm? I ask b/c I seem to recall when I pulled the arm that something was rattling around, and I no longer have that rattling. I had the arm glass-bead blasted to clean 30+ years of grime off of it, and even though I cleaned with compressed air I may have not gotten all of the media? The media may be holding up the floating capture point (if one exists)? Or am I imagining things?

Thanks, Pelicans!

[unclebilly]

Does your bolt have the correct pitch? Is it 1mm from thread tip to thread tip or something else? Bolt diameter is only one part of a thread spec.

[garment]

PET calls for a 1.5 thread pitch. I will measure both the bolt and the receptacle.

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Does your bolt have the correct pitch? Is it 1mm from thread tip to thread tip or something else? Bolt diameter is only one part of a thread spec.

[steely]

Originally Posted by garment

Thanks for the replies. Appreciate the help with questions about my '83SC

Follow up question - does the drop link connection point have a "floating" nut or other capture mechanism in the trailing arm? I ask b/c I seem to recall when I pulled the arm that something was rattling around, and I no longer have that rattling. I had the arm glass-bead blasted to clean 30+ years of grime off of it, and even though I cleaned with compressed air I may have not gotten all of the media? The media may be holding up the floating capture point (if one exists)? Or am I imagining things?

Thanks, Pelicans!

For my 87 there is no capture nut if that is what you are referring to. The arm itself is threaded.

I thought earlier ones, and I don't know the years, are also threaded in order to accommodate a threaded pin with a ball on the end of it, and the older style drop link socket was pressed on to the ball.

[garment]

Thanks for confirming Dan, will chase the threads tonight and see where I'm at.

Originally Posted by steely

For my 87 there is no capture nut if that is what you are referring to. The arm itself is threaded.

I thought earlier ones, and I don't know the years, are also threaded in order to accommodate a threaded pin with a ball on the end of it, and the older style drop link socket was pressed on to the ball.

[garment]

Thought I could chase the threads tonight...but the thread restorer kit I received had 2 M12x1.75...and no M12x1.5...so looks like I'll have to wait another day. Sigh.

Originally Posted by garment

Thanks for confirming Dan, will chase the threads tonight and see where I'm at.