Richard Young Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 (edited) Hi everyone,I knew it wouldnt be long before I was on here again! I have noticed that on my rebuild, the trailing arms have an odd configuration. On dismantling I noted.. N/Side (outer) 1 notch bracket with 4 shims (inner) 3 notch bracket with 4 shims Both brackets with notches facing up. O/Side (outer) 1 notch bracket with 4 shims (Inner) 2 notch bracket with 3 shims Outer bracket notch facing up Inner bracket notch facing DOWN. My question...would this mean that the configuration has been altered during cars life for one reason or another or would the car have had this configuration from the factory when new. It seems to me that both N/side and O/side have wildly differing configurations.I have checked the chassis thoroughly and it is true with no visible signs of damage. Should I put it back together with the above configuration and then check alignment when on the road? Suggestions appreciated to enable me to move forward on this. Thanks in advance. Regards Richard. Edited January 16, 2017 by Richard Young Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris59 Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 The car certainly didn't left the factory with a bracket fitted upside down. Check the arms for alignment, they can be twisted/bent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Hi Richard, not sure how they left the factory but changing them is not fun so they may be original. The camber of the rear wheels is adjusted by these brackets. I have a similar assortment on mine. It doesn't take a lot to put the camber put. Get the car sorted with the brackets as is and then check the camber as per the WSM. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard Young Posted January 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Thanks Roger..knew you would come to the rescue! Will rebuild them as is and suck it and see, as they say. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ed_h Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Richard-- If you haven't seen it already, take a look at this link, especially near the bottom of the page. It may shed some light on the arrangement you see. http://www.buckeyetriumphs.org/technical/Suspension/AdjRS/AdjRS.htm Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Hi Richard, I used the Buckeye site, that Ed shows, to sort out my TA brackets and it worked. The answer is to measure and then measure again. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard Young Posted January 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Hi Ed, Thanks for link...wow..explains everything. Since I posted this, I have just had a good look through the stack full of old service records that came with the car and I see now on a very faded illegible invoice that it had a (quote) ''new os arm'' in 1978..can only imagine it probably suffered a bump..also on the invoice I can just make out in hardly readable scribbled pencil ''Note..needs rear alignment". So, think this might mean it was adjusted hence the odd bracket arrangement. As Roger suggests,I am going to assemble with this odd configuration and once I have a rolling chassis I will check the alignment and take it from there.Also probably means that if the arm was new,the chassis could be fractionally out which was 'hopefully' rectified with the bracket arrangement...hey ho all good fun! R Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Hi Richard, you can only (normally) adjust the brackets with the whole car assembled. It needs weight on the TA to give the correct position. Bags of cement come to mind. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peter Cobbold Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Hi Ed, Thanks for link...wow..explains everything. Since I posted this, I have just had a good look through the stack full of old service records that came with the car and I see now on a very faded illegible invoice that it had a (quote) ''new os arm'' in 1978..can only imagine it probably suffered a bump.. R Richard, Check all the brackets carefully for cracking. I had to replace the OS t/a after a taxi attacked it side-on. Three years later a NS bracket failed. It had most likely started to crack in the impact. Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard Young Posted January 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Thanks Peter,i will have a good look. Going back to Chris's comment..thank you Chris,you were correct (see my reply to Ed as probable cause) the arm was renewed so points to chassis area being slightly off i would guess. Roger thanks..Will check with chassis weighted..Wont be for a week or two! R. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Hi Richard, this may be what you will find. The brackets can and do break Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 If you look closely at the arm you may well find a date of manufacture on it to confirm the change. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard Young Posted January 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 Hi Stuart, Yes, the dates tend to confirm a change,assuming they should both be dated the same from the factory. One trailing arm is 1970 and tuther is stamped 1972. The invoice date showing new trailing arm was 1987.... charged at 70 dollars. Regards Richard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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