Re: [T3] Front Axle Troubles

[Chris J Valade <redyouth@juno.com>]

Jim, et. al.;

        The tires are only closer to the body when the car is down, and
the wheels actually return to their proper position while I am jacking up
the car and then go down a tad further as--so far as I am aware--they
should.  I was looking at the front end and the diagram and I believe,
now, that it was lower because one torsion bar was not bolted in, and the
other may have been loose.
        I was trying to remove the right torsion arm after all the other
arms and bars have been taken off, and the setscrew taken out.  The arm
doesn't remain completely flush, but comes out only about 3/4" (enough
for me to fit the full width of my thumb in there...beyond that I haven't
measured it).
        If the bump stop is that lil tab on the part of the torsion arm
that touches the beam, then it isn't in the way since I have attempted to
remove the arm at every angle I could turn it with no avail, although it
turns tighter in some places than others, but only when it is removed at
least a little bit, i.e. when it is flush with the beam it turns freely.
        Are the grub screws the only two screws for both upper arms (not
including the retaining bolt that is on the right side, since that is
missing and needs to be replaced)?  If so, both are loosened/removed (the
right one comes out and the left one only allows me to take the nut off).
        I have pictures off the front end when it was all together and on
a flat surface, and the lower torsion arms were firmly resting on the
rubber stops, actually they were resting on that lil metal stump which
remains when the rubber is removed (3 out of 4 of the rubber stops were
completely busted, cracked, dried and/or gone).  When I put it back
together (I'm going to wait for parts, and of course this is assuming
that I can get the upper left arm in with not all that much trouble) I am
going to install everything according to the Bentley's.  When I get to
that point I will check out the measurements--thanks for the suggestion,
and hopefully I won't have to replace the front axle beam and I can drive
it fairly soon (you know, before I'm of drinking age...Oct 24, 2004,
heh).  What is the title of that Dave Hall book?  I couldn't find any
listings on Amazon for his name.
        I am still certain that the part of the beam that the stops are
installed on is bent, and when I made a brief attempt at hammering it
back I realized that such a route would be near impossible, so if it is
damaged enough replacement is the only option=\  I believe that when the
tower knocked the front left end off the jack stand it knocked the
retaining bolt and lock plate for the right torsion bar off which caused
the lower arm to push out and the upper torsion arm to push the upper
ball joint into such a position with enough force the bend the metal
around the top of that ball joint.  Then, perhaps, loosened the left
bolt, and with the force downward caused the lower arms to hit the lower
installation point for the rubber stops (remember that I had and have no
actual rubber stops there) and forced them upwards just enough to cause
the difficulty I am experiencing.  This is the only scenario I can
picture which would have caused all the damages I have found which didn't
previously exist.  I think this would also explain why the torsion arms
aren't bent: the force that was applied to them was applied to the part
which is made to take the most force.  Does this sound plausible?
        What are the bolt dimensions of the retaining bolts and washers? 
All 3, both for the torsion arms, and the one for the stabilizer bar.  I
looked in my manuals and couldn't find this info, if it is in there:
where?  (I've got the Bentley, Muir, and Chilton).
        At this point the only thing I'm not yet certain about is if I
need to replace the front beam.

Sincerely,
Christopher J. Valade

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