Front lower control arm parts

mickmate · #1 (**permalink**) 02-22-2013, 03:18 PM

I am putting together some arms at the moment to replace on a car. I have sourced the ball joints from the Saab 900 2.0L L4 Turbocharged. Moog part # SABJ0556. The inner urethane bushings are very close to the Shelby parts with a thinner head on the bushings. Do any of you AC gurus know the source for this part for the car that has almost as many donors as the 60's version

Thanks Nick

westcott cobra · #2 (**permalink**) 02-24-2013, 02:25 PM

Hi Nick,

I actually replace my worn out MK IV A-arm bushings by this parts:
Energy Suspension Control Arm Bushing Sets 4-3125G - SummitRacing.com
You have to shorten the metal tubes comming with the kit to the original length measured from the 2original tubes.

Uwe

LMH · #3 (**permalink**) 02-24-2013, 05:01 PM

Wow, it says those fit A.C. back to 63! I didn't know those were made. Thanks for posting that link.
Larry

mickmate · #4 (**permalink**) 02-24-2013, 08:07 PM

Thanks Uwe, I use the energy suspension Shelby bushings (on cars I do without bronze) but have only seen them with a tee head bushing from each end. Those pics show one long tee head with a ring for the other end. The ones I have here have a 1/8" thick head and I need 1/4" thick. Of course it says image may vary from actual part. If you reckon they'll fit with minor mods I'll get a set coming and make them work. Thanks again.

MAStuart · #5 (**permalink**) 02-24-2013, 11:25 PM

Nick are they like the ones that Cobra restorers sell. I got some from them . they come in two halves and a bushing you press in the center . My son said they look like one of the bushing suppliers made them and when he checked they had bushings for 63 to 67 cobras. Mark

westcott cobra · #6 (**permalink**) 02-25-2013, 02:17 AM

The pics on the summit page are just for information. Each insert has the T- shape with one steel tube going through where the originals have one steel tube per insert.

Find here a real pic of what you get with the set. The pic is true even if there is written that actual part may vary.

Energy Suspension 4.3125G Front or Rear Control Arm Bushing - Performance Parts
On my MK IV i have the origianl type a Arms but with one "pressure" disk/plate/washer sitting in the outside a-arm brackets to the frame.
They are made to compress the installed rubber inserts to the length of the steel inserts by tighten the bolts and nuts after installation.

These "pressure" discs swim inside a bigger diameter hole in each outboard frame side a-arm brackets. Therefore it is necessary to shorten the supplied one-piece steel tube to the original length of both original tubes.

The original Metalastic bushes have one metal tube from about 33mm length per rubber part.

The new ones have one inner metal tube going through two PU parts, it has to be shortened. The supplied parts are 68mm and I have them turned down to 66 mm length.

If you don't do so this pressure disc will sit borderline outside in the frame's a-arm bracket and pop out if loaded a bit on the road.

All measurements are taken from the installation on my car AK 1106.

Hope my rudimentary English can explain the situation.....

Uwe

PS: AK 1106 was shown here:
Clevelands and FE are done, will start my first 5.0 !

mickmate · #7 (**permalink**) 02-25-2013, 06:17 AM

Sounds like the cup washer.
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000027b
I have those here in poly and brass and they are shorter than the AC parts. Perhaps when the car shows up I'll see it has the wrong parts in it. If they are too long it will do exactly what you said with the cup washer.
Thanks again guys.

blue sky · #8 (**permalink**) 02-25-2013, 08:18 AM

Nick, If you need measurements of the original bushings, drop me an email and I can check some NOS sets of these that I have. Regards, AJ

MAStuart · #9 (**permalink**) 02-25-2013, 08:58 AM

I take it you guys are tallking about newer cobras. AJ can you post a pic of the ones you have ? Does anyone have a pic of the original metalistic bushings that came on the 63 64 leafspring cars? Mark

Dominik · #10 (**permalink**) 07-16-2013, 09:54 AM

Nick, what Uwe explained is not the cup washer. I saw him change the parts.
It's almost like a floating sleeve on one side.
i.e. the holes might accommodate the cup washers, but there is actually a sleeve.

In essence the control arm bushes are not clamped in double-shear, but have one floating end.

If Uwe had taken a pic...

mickmate · #11 (**permalink**) 07-17-2013, 04:31 AM

I got this squared away and back together. There was definite size differences between the AC bushings and the Shelby ones although they are similar in construction.

LMH · #12 (**permalink**) 07-17-2013, 09:12 AM

I have a set of those cup washers from HiTech. I wonder how they compare to original?
Larry

Dominik · #13 (**permalink**) 07-17-2013, 10:55 AM

Talking about the cup washers:
I was once told they are a sacrificial part to give way in an accident.

I can see that the bolt head needs to be sunk to give room for the radiator (that's the front, upper control arm forward bolt).

Kirkham once commented on this and I believe they build the chassis now with 5/8" holes and bolt right through?

Well, that's what I did.

mickmate · #14 (**permalink**) 07-17-2013, 02:15 PM

Hi Dom, I think you and I had that discussion. I've since changed my mind, they allow for the variation of bushing length and control arm dimensions and bushing alignment I've hypothesised. They should all fit a 1-1/2" hole Larry.

Dominik · #15 (**permalink**) 07-17-2013, 10:44 PM

Hi Nick!

I think we did. But maybe we think too much and it was actually a design error then :-)

Almost like: I need the color codes to mix that grey engine paint as used on my old Opel. Well, dude here's a secret: We mixed all leftover paint from the paintshop and it always ends up grey!

Uwe is a good investigator when it comes to sourcing Mk4 parts. Ask him!