[MNVXer]

Just got my Spider back from the alignment shop! My new front suspension is in and the new (/used ZF box) steering system is in place and aligned! I didn't really torque down the new tie-rods. Just got it 'close' (both wheels kind of straight) and brought it to the shop thats just around the corner. Three passenger tire 'Errpp Errpps' and I was there! When I picked up the car, the manager says "it was really out of alignment" and I just started laughing.

The car is TIGHT now. Body roll in curves is greatly reduced. You really feel the POLY bushings... =) I was rolling on a vulcanized jello bushings I think

I wanted to give people a heads up on those Burman box cracks. Make sure that the steering column is bolted to the body under the dash. There are two bolts that hold the column (and the ignition switch/turn signal/headlight bracket) to the body. Mine were never there.... Which meant that each time I turned the wheel hard (say parallel parking in the city) it would flex the steering shaft - around which the cracks appear. Obviously the design of the Burman box stresses that outer casing, but I didn't want to expedite the process.

Also - I found out WHY my wheel was off center (but the car tracked straight) with the wheels straight. "Apparently" the center track rod should normally be straight. Mine looked like a boomerang. The HF 12 ton press paid for itself about 10 times over on the Suspension/Steering project.

Every job on this car is definitely a trip... Now, if I could only get the reverse lights to work!

Also, I finished just in time for the heat wave. Thanks a lot, corn sweat.

 

[John533i]

Very good! All my poly bushings worked out fine except for the poly transmission mount- that had to be pulled out right away. But, after a year, I have s squeak on the left rear of the car, when I hit a bump. Irritating.

 

[spider4me]

squeek

John,
put some lube on the poly bushings and some anti-seize on the bolts that hold the rear trailing arm bushings where they go through the bushings. that should help

 

[John533i]

John,
put some lube on the poly bushings and some anti-seize on the bolts that hold the rear trailing arm bushings where they go through the bushings. that should help

I'm down with spraying some type of lube on, but I'm not taking that crap apart again to lube it until they fail! I'm going to try some silicone spray and see how long that lasts.

 

[jclark]

That should work ( eventually ) - just spray spray spray, practice grinding your teeth DAMHIK....

 

[alfaparticle]

I've had poly bushings from Performatek on my Spider for more than 10 years. The only squeaks have been from the sway bar and extra grease fixed them.

 

[GV27]

If you do decide to re-grease them, then THIS is what you need:

Energy Suspension Formula 5 Prelube

Pay no attention to the "only a small amount" part - goober the heck out of them with the snot! It's super thick and sticky. Also great for making limpet mines.

 

[John533i]

If you do decide to re-grease them, then THIS is what you need:

Energy Suspension Formula 5 Prelube

Pay no attention to the "only a small amount" part - goober the heck out of them with the snot! It's super thick and sticky. Also great for making limpet mines.

My neighborhood association has a clause in the rule book about limpet mines, so I can't use them. The sports car guys were using them on the Escallades.