Re: Control arm

[progeny <progeny@crosslink.net>]

CHARLES E. HAASE wrote:
> 
> Hi Jim and everyone!
> Would someone have a front, right side (i.e. the side opposed to the
> driver), lower control arm, preferably with a ball joint already
> installed?
> If so, how much for it?
> What happens is that my car has always pulled to the right, and today
> after taking it back to the place where i got my alignment done a few
> weeks ago, they told me that they cannot pull off the lower arm to
> adjust the "caster"? (or something named like that). In other words,
> what the guy told me is that it's as if I were standing with both of
> my feet parallel in relation to each other, but one of them, being a
> little behind. Therefore since it has stuck together, he may have to
> cut it to get it off. Therefore, we would need another one.
> Does it make sense what I'm saying? Any sugguestions?
> Thank you.
> -Charles.
> '70 Fastabck.

	What your mechanic is telling you is partially right.  Neg. caster on
the right side will cause your car to pull right, especially on a
crowned road.  Actually, caster won't really make it pull too hard, but
it would be more of a drift.  If there was a problem, your mechanic
should have told you the first time you brought it in.
	As for having to cut somehting...mmm...I'd get a second opinion.  I'm
with Jim...I'd make sure this guy knows what he's doing.  What I'm going
to guess he is talking about is that the lower ball joint is stuck in
the lower control/trailing arm and won't turn.  The bottom of your ball
joint has an eccentric on it that when turned will move the steering
knuckle/spindle and change the angle of the knuckle to the road, which
in actuality moves your wheel forward or backward (caster) or in or out
(camber).
	You may be able to fix this yourself.  If you take your wheel off and
turn your steering wheel all the way to the left, you'll see a large nut
on the top of your ball joint and a small nut/bold on the control arm
that goes sideways.  Take the large nut off...if the ball joint doesn't
come right out of the knuckle, whack the knuckle (right at the side of
the ball joint) until it pops out...then take the small nut and bolt
out...there is a split in the end of the control arm where this bolt
came out of...pry it apart a little bit so you can get the ball joint
out.  since you have it apart, replacing the ball joint wouldn't be a
bad idea unless you know its good.  If you're going to re-use the ball
joint, lightly sand the ruse off the eccentric and off the inside of the
control arm.  If you want, you can apply a SMALL amount of grease in the
hole in the control arm...don't use too much because the control arm
still has to be able to clamp on the eccentric...if you use too much, it
could slip after you put it all back together and your alignment would
go out again.  Like I said, this is assuming that your mechanic and I
are thinking of the same thing.
	If your mechanic gave you a print out of the alignment, (which he
should of) if you want to send it to me, I could tell you a little more.
hope this helps :)
mikey