Tie rod hitting top of front sway bar link? | Page 7 | FerrariChat

Tie rod hitting top of front sway bar link?

Discussion in '308/328' started by LOBO1, Feb 7, 2019.

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  1. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    Jul 28, 2008
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    ok I thought it could be optical
     
  2. LOBO1

    LOBO1 Rookie

    Dec 26, 2017
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    BOB LOEB
    Part numbers are correct but we did double check several along the way, came from GT Car Parts in Phoenix. Tightened the A Arms with the car off the ground, torqued to Ferrari specifications.
     
  3. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    Jul 28, 2008
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    Ok so, tightened off the ground in what position? down up center?
     
  4. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    And have you talked with Bill at Gt? Not that it would be great help, but WTH
     
  5. ferrariowner

    ferrariowner Formula 3

    Feb 21, 2014
    1,109
    Mansfield, TX
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    Ron
    One thing I notice, (it may be the photo) is the lower shock spring perch seems to different than my car. How far is it from the bottom of the spring to the lower shock mounting bolt? From some of the photos it looks like you have more exposed shock (red) below the spring than on my car. When you put the car down on the ground does the front end ride high?
     
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  6. LOBO1

    LOBO1 Rookie

    Dec 26, 2017
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    BOB LOEB
    Yes, he's our best friend.. Probably on his blocked call list now. ha ha.

    A Arms were tightened in a centerish position.
     
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  7. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    Actually was on a list of questions in my mind from last week. lets see where this goes
     
  8. LOBO1

    LOBO1 Rookie

    Dec 26, 2017
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    BOB LOEB
    It does ride high but we don't really have anything (engine, spare tire, seats...) in the car currently.
     
  9. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    Damn
     
  10. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    So I assume you are in Glendale/ Phx? No need to answer in public if u don't want. When I go to AZ im about 6 miles from GTCP
     
  11. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
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    Bubba
    OK I can't get a good picture because it's DARK, and my tires are on, but from looking at my driver's side with the wheel on, you're assembly is actually "not far off".

    As my car sits suspension loaded, on the ground, there's about an inch between the ball joint bolt end and the upper top of the sway bar dog bone.
    "I will say" that this clearance will be produced, if you lube the bushings well with oil, drop your car on the ground, throw the battery into the trunk, etc.

    At that point, the a arms and spindle are moving upward on the pivots of the bushing bolts, yet the sway bar and dogbones are moving with the lower a arm, captive to a lesser amount. You will be preloading the sway bar as the whole suspension combined rises.

    At the end of the day, in situ, my ball joint bolt in is about 1" forward of the dog bone top, forward of it, and well over 1" clearance from the bolt to the other components, rearward in the car. I don't even think my steering arm Would graze it "full lock" as Martins, but I will play with it, next time it's in the air!!!

    And my spare tire is not installed which would make it a little better.
    Or I am totally wrong and will look again in the daylight.

    Looking at how you have built it, against the Parts Diagram I cannot find one foot put wrong!
     
  12. LOBO1

    LOBO1 Rookie

    Dec 26, 2017
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    BOB LOEB
    Bottom of the shock spring to the center of the mounting bolt is 2.5"

    Yes, Phoenix is our location and we usually make a couple trips a week to see Bill.
     
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  13. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    God hates a coward! LOLOLOL!

    Se my wild conjecture, set forth below....
     
  14. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Bubba
    Parts diagrams can be wrong on details, swapping the thick spacer with the normal ones would move the top a arm 1/8", (to the good of the clearance) but I don't think that's your issue. Put a floor jack under the lower ball joint and jack it up, see if that does as I guessed...???
     
  15. ferrariowner

    ferrariowner Formula 3

    Feb 21, 2014
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    Mansfield, TX
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    Ron
    It looks like mine is about 2 1/4 ,but it is difficult to measure on the ground. Is it possible that you have the wrong springs or rear springs on front? Just thinking out loud.
     
  16. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    Bob, if the car is set on the ground and you ratchet strap or/ push down on the front of the car and get the chasiss down to the Work Shop Manual Specs for chassis , does everything clear? On a GT4 I believe the chassis height is 5.25". not sure on a 308 but im sure its close. Im suspisious of the A arm tightening now. The car is supposed to be on the ground and the A arms loose and then tighten the bolts,{and bounce the car up and down a few times to settle everything} and yes I know the engine etc is not installed. On my Gt I had perfectly sized blocks of wood to set the car onto Via the A arm ends so I can get to the Arm bolts without having the wheels on the car
     
  17. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    man this thing is a PITA, poor Bobs Ferrari exp isn't going great,
     
  18. LOBO1

    LOBO1 Rookie

    Dec 26, 2017
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    BOB LOEB
    While writing my updates, our main technician was messing around with the shims on the A Arms and appears to have created enough clearance.

    He moved all four upper adjusting plates we had to the forward side and all four lowers to the back side. We're still low but the new caster angle allows the nut to move in front of the top of link.

    Now when you continue to turn the wheel, the end of the sway bar hits the backing plate. Is that normal or should there be a steering stop?
     
  19. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    its probably still low for lack of weight. But that's great news. but I think there are 2 plates per side of the upper B joint
     
  20. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    #170 absostone, Feb 11, 2019
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2019
    What? the end of the sway bar hits the backing plate???????????
     
  21. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
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    Changing ride height can make a difference but it has been said that it should clear at full droop. It just a little geometry. The distance along the red line at full lock can not change. Similarly, the distance along the yellow line can not change. As the ride height is lowered, the yellow line would over lay the pink line eventually. This effectively means the lower mounting point of the dog bone moves down relative to the tie rod nut. So the distance along the green line would increase and, perhaps, provide sufficient clearance. But that would not stop the interference at full droop.

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    One other possibility other than alignment, and I think it has bee discussed before, but the steering arms are keyed into the spindle. At about the 10 o'clock position on the right side and the 2 o'clock position on the left. I'm sure you checked, but is it possible that the spindles have been mounted upside down, on the wrong sides? The key ways would then be near 8 and 4 o'clock and, perhaps, the steering arms would slope down instead of up? That is pure speculation about assembly error. OK Bubba? :)
     
  22. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran

    Jul 16, 2011
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    Robert
    Maybe that sway bar is splayed. Try a different sway bar since they are usually available from breakers.
     
  23. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    aah nice diagrams and info. but as far as the spindles go the long side of the spindle is upward and is correct. and Bob stated the steering arms were never removed.
     
  24. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    correct shocks front to rear? I think someone mentioned this. I think the rears are longer
     
  25. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    check the shock numbers
     

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