Based on thorn's photo in post #17, it doesn't look like there is any angle up or down in those parts (and, if those parts can be swapped, I'll need to time travel back to the past and slap the design engineers around some ). Any chance you can take a photo like thorn's in that same as-loaded condition?
We did, first photo with tape measure is of the car on the ground with wheels. It's now up in the air again, as we troubleshoot the sway bar/ tie rod issue.
strange thing is that in your photos pre rebuild the tierod was hitting the link when the sus was suspended
This car was in terrible shape when we got it and it had a blown head gasget so we have never driven it.
I'm not near my car at the moment, but took a few quick pics last night from below the lift (four post lift, car on its wheels, suspension loaded) These show another angle and how far away both parts are from each other. Haven't looked with the wheels off from the ground. But due to the radius movement of the sway bar parts will come closer. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Best from Germany Martin
It looks to me like the lower A-arms need to swap sides , and of course flip over. Martins photo shows the outer end of the lower A-arm with a slight upward bend. The OP’s has a downward bend.
also are the A arm bushing spacers installed in the correct location? and the upper ball joint connection looks like its at a extreme angle in some of the pics
Hi all, Just looked at my 328 and the lower A-arms look like Martin's, plenty of clearance between the tie rod and the sway bar link. I agree on that the lower A-arms may have been swapped... left to right(and upside down of course). John.
Well, that doesn't look right either. Sway bar link should not be skewed. Image Unavailable, Please Login
If the A-arm is flipped and put on the other side of the car, then the "hump" on the arm near the frame mounts would be upside down, and become a "tub". So I don't think the arm on the OP's car (or mine) is on the wrong side. Of course if I'm wrong, please say so... as I'll need to get mine back on the rack. Re: my sway bar links.... JohnK, thanks for pointing that out. It's always had that weird off-angle, but I assumed "that's how it is". However, I just studied both sides of the car. Looks like the swaybar wasn't centered correctly when it was installed by the PO, as the left link is canted towards the center of the car. So time for me to correct that issue. (Seriously, thanks. I hadn't noticed that forest, for the trees.)
The more I look at all the pics the more I think that the tie rod end mount (#3 and #4) must have been swapped. The illustration shows them angled. On closer examination of the illustration it shows one angled up and the other angled down. Hmmm... Lester
That's a picture angle issue. There's no angle at all. The wishbone is straight. Will take another picture later this evening. Best from Germany Martin
