[r-mm]

Hi

I'm about to press in new lower a arm bushings and want to be sure I have the orientation correct. It looks like the left side of the bushing in my picture should be the sides that face each other when installed. In other words, when pressing the bearings, the press arm touches this side. This is also the side that gets the washer. Am I right?

Also, which front suspension parts are handed? I presume (hope) the A arm halves and center sections are NOT L/R side specific ?

Steering knuckles and spindles obviously are...

 

[Tifosi]

Green ring and felt washer go inboard.
Make sure you get the cut/tapered side of the washer between dogbone and bushing orientated correctly.
The tapered side of the center hole goes inboard to allow clearance for the small transition radius of the spindle turning on the dogbone.

EDIT:
Pic I stole from a post Rich did a while back showing most excellently the aforementioned washer irientation

 

[r-mm]

Ah! I was about to ask for a clarification on that. So the "mouth" of the taper opens towards the center of the dogbone.

Green ring and felt washer go inboard.
Make sure you get the cut/tapered side of the washer between dogbone and bushing orientated correctly.
The tapered side of the center hole goes inboard to allow clearance for the small transition radius of the spindle turning on the dogbone.

EDIT:
Pic I stole from a post Rich did a while back showing most excellently the aforementioned washer irientation

 

[dbest]

Lower A-Arm Orientation

Look closely at the four lower A-arm forgings and you will notice two have flats on the outside of the bulge where the inner bushings fit. This is to provide clearance for the tie rod ends to pass when steering. Sorry I do not have pictures but it is important to assemble the four arms correctly to avoid locking the steering!

Don

 

[Tifosi]

Look closely at the four lower A-arm forgings and you will notice two have flats on the outside of the bulge where the inner bushings fit. This is to provide clearance for the tie rod ends to pass when steering. Sorry I do not have pictures but it is important to assemble the four arms correctly to avoid locking the steering!

Ya, the 'scallop' goes aft to clear the outer rod ends

Ah! I was about to ask for a clarification on that. So the "mouth" of the taper opens towards the center of the dogbone.

Yup.

 

[alfaroad]

about the A halves: manuals showing for front and rear halves, so, must not be the same.

 

[Tifosi]

Correct.
From r-mm's pic up above:

 

[r-mm]

Yes - this much I could (barely) tell from the manual. I was asking if the arms were driver/passenger side specific.

Correct.
From r-mm's pic up above:

 

[39cub]

I've just cleaned up my own lower A-arms (A arms) and thought I'd add a photo showing the difference discussed here between the front (fore) and rear (aft) arms. These are the original arms on my '65 GT.

The arm with the bevels is the rear arm, the bevels providing some clearance for the tie rod end.


Chuck