Re: [T3] Purest Type 3 group? (lowering)

[BOB2TYPE3S@aol.com]

In a message dated 3/14/04 11:43:09 AM Central Standard Time, 
jadney@vwtype3.org writes:

<< On 13 Mar 2004 at 20:31, BOB2TYPE3S@aol.com wrote:
 
 > The funny thing that happens though, is that as you raise the lower
 > arm up, from 1 spline to 2 splines is the amount of degrees changed is
 > actually less (using the outer as a reference). I found that the first
 > spline moved it 10 degrees, but the second spline only moved it 4
 > more. So this starts becoming confusing, right?? 
 
 There's no way around the fact that the math has to work right in the end, 
but 
 in the meantime I suspect that the problem you saw was due to rust/dirt that 
 gets in the splines and keeps them from mating perfectly. This is probably 
much 
 more of a problem in rust belt cars like ours. By necessity, there must be 
slop 
 in the fit, so there is room for dirt to fall in there and introduce some 
 uncertainty. My guess is that this goes away; after driving for awhile, 
 assuming the dirt might get pulverized or work its way out of there.  
  >>
I got ALL of my measurements while I had the front end of the car off the 
ground and apart. I started with just a reference measurement of the lower 
trailing arm unloaded. Then I removed the lower trailing arm and moved it 1 outer 
spline. Put it together (seated) and took a measurement. Then I removed the 
trailing arm again, and moved it up 1 more spline. Seated it again and took 
another measurement. All of the measurements are of the lower trailing arm unloaded, 
and in the same place (measuring tool). I did it this way so that I could get 
an idea of how much the trailing arm actually moved per spline, and to verify 
that I moved both sides the same amount (to keep the car level, and it gets 
hard to see those little splines). On a side note, this was done on a southern 
car (from Lousianna, then Texas, before relocating in Michigan for less than 3 
months), so I don't think rust was an issue. This might be why Pat is able to 
drop the front of his car 6 splines, and still get it back together. On 
another note, I have had a type3 down 5 splines before, but it rode too stiff for 
me (almost no suspension movement), and there was the fact that you couldn't 
turn the front tires while trying to turn. Needless to say, it went back up. I 
hope this helps explain how I got my readings though.

Bob 65 Notch S w/ Sunroof
       71 Square, Now a 2 seat Roadster, pics can be seen at; 
http://volksrods.com or http://photo.starblvd.net/bobnotch

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