Suspension, Lower front A frame on '59

[tjugofyra]

Removed everything to the lower A frame. Rubber bushings are bad. Not obvious how to remove the heavy pivot pins. Need suggestions on how to remove them.

[simplyconnected]

Lynton, welcome to Squarebirds. I feel honored to answer your first post. You need a Shop Manual for your car.

It goes through the proceedure of putting the car on jack stands, then putting a jack under the lower ball joint, then loosten the ball joint nut.

When you separate the ball joint, the nut will keep the parts from getting away. Finally, loosten the nut and allow the lower 'A' arm to rest on the jack as you lower it. The spring will fall out and you don't need a spring compressor.

Then loosten the pivot bolts and nuts. Pay attention to any shims because you will put them back from where they came. Drive the bolts out and the lower 'A' arm will drop right out.

Take lots of pictures while you are taking things apart, as you clean and repaint your parts, and while you put the assembly back together.

Since you will have the whole spindle and both 'A' arms out, consider changing all your bushings, your front springs, and add power disk brakes. I did mine, now the brakes will put me through the windshield (just like a modern car). I can take my hands off my steering wheel and the car stops in a straight line with no fade or pull. - Dave

[DKheld]

Dave has it right on the money - only thing I can add is that the car has to be off the ground approx. 22 inches measured from the inside of the A-Arm to the ground for the arm to swing down far enough to remove the spring. Basically it pretty high on these big cars.

Disc brakes are a tremendous safety modification to these heavy cars.

Eric

http://www.tbirdregistry.com/ft.asp

[Guest]

Hey Lynton,
Once again just ask! I knew Dave (simplyconnected) would come through, he always does. Now there's a man with some experience!
Richard D. Hord

[tjugofyra]

A little confidence helps

Thanks, I just threaded in a 3/8 - fine bolt to take the hammer blows and pins are sliding out nicely using a two pound hammer.
Do the pins need to come all the way out or just back far enough to remove the arms? Do both front and rear pins need to be removed?
Next order bushing kit.
Like the idea of the disk brakes. More info please.
Engine and tranny are removed.

[YellowRose]

Suspension, Lower front A frame on '59

Lynton, there are 26 pages of technical posts (plus some how to do it Tech Tips in the Technical Resource Library) on converting a Squarebird with 14" rims to disc brakes. Here is the link. It should help you make a decision, and which way you want to go. There are several different ways you can do this, as you will see. If you have 15" rims or greater, on your Tbird, you will be in good shape. If you have 14" rims you will have to find disc brake ready rims from a bone yard or disc brake ready Ford car. All this is talked about in this thread.

http://www.squarebirds.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=5023

[simplyconnected]

Lynton, ALL suspension work is not for the weak. It requires heavy, big tools. Thank God for levers and pipe extensions.

By the sound of your post, you are on your way. Pull the pins all the way out so you can clean them up before you put them back in.

Did you ever get that shop manual? - Dave

Richard Hord (..Shhhh... before someone starts to believe that stuff. Someone who really does know their stuff will eventually ask hard questions, and then the REAL truth will come out.)

Edit: Hey Lynton, I left you a personal message (PM). Go to the black bar above, and click on 'User CP' (control panel). Inside there are your personal messages.

[Guest]

Hey Dave,
Truth is truth! You know what I'm wanting to say, what I have told you several times, but I will keep it to myself!!!
Richard D. Hord

[tjugofyra]

New supension parts arrived yesterday, finally. Out of stock and a price increase -- go figure. So will work on suspension a bit today.
Dave, back to the shop manual and membership. I'm sure there is a button to push here someplace, just need help finding it.
Lyn

[YellowRose]

Suspension, Lower front A frame on '59

Hi Lyn! If you would like to become a paid member, you will need a PayPal account. If you have one, good. If not, you will need to create one and fund it. Once that is done, just click on the Donate to Site button that you should be seeing at the top right of the Forum. It will take you from there. Good luck with the front end work.

Here is some additional information for those of you who would like to support Squarebirds.org by becoming paid members. I wanted to let you know that it IS possible to pay for your membership by another way, other than through PayPal. I know that some people do not care to use PayPal for various reasons. It is possible to send payment to John Peters ~ driller in care of Lincolns of Distinction, whose server we share. Here is the link to becoming a paid member that those of you who are not, might want to review.

http://www.squarebirds.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=5639

[simplyconnected]

So, use either PayPal, or mail your $20 check or money order to:

Lincolns of Distinction
188 Arbogast Lane,
Morgantown, WV 26508

Please note on the check, 'for Squarebirds membership'.