jpitman2

Jacked rear via crossmember yesterday to do something else, noticed left wheel had visibly more positive camber than right. Found the hub to crossmember blade part (vertical flat steel part) has a bend in it, maybe 20-25 degrees. Spun the wheels up, no signs of run out at all, and I have had it up past 90mph with no vibration or handling issues. I doubt that I have really pressed it into a hard fast right hander which might have shown up something misaligned, and I certainly havent kerbed it hard either.
With wheels back on the ground and settled, the camber left and right is pretty much identical (diff < 1 degree).
Anybody BTDT? Can I safely press the blade back to flat? I need to do the cv joint boots anyway, and the rear shocks, so I was going to be in there anyway. Any tricks to pulling the lower arm? Nothing looks too difficult there.
TIA,
jp 83 Euro S AT

GlenL

My lower arm experience was complicated by having the camber eccentric bolt "weld" itself to the aluminum sleeve inside the bushing. Had to saw the bolt off inside the flanges to get it out. Replacing the bushings was a PITA as well and the machine shop just couldn't get the new one to be centered like the old one.

If it was me, I'd pull it back to straight, or thereabouts, while it's on the car.

Jim bailey - 928 International

That flat blade is a "spring plate" and is made of spring steel . It bends as part of the "rear steer" . The damage you have is probably from a tow truck driver's hook or the tiedowns used when you shipped your car . It will be difficult to bend back because of the "spring" .

mark kibort

that lower blade was damaged when i was hit in 2 seasons ago, World Challenge GT race by that mustang. he hit me directly on the wheel, which changed my alignment, but I still was able to finish the race. however, it changed the toe in the rear so I couldnt turn right very easily. in the pits, you could see that it was visually bent. (Marc Tomas had an off track at T-hill that bent it so bad, it was at a 90degree angle and the wheel was positive camber about 15 degrees!!!!)
anyway, i was able to re align it, and its fine. (but remember, mine had a very slight bend in it, only changing my toe to 1.5 degrees)

I think if it is bent and you cant align around it, you may want to replace it.

Im sure jim has a few of them in stock!

MK

GlenL

OK, then, I'd TRY to bend it back straight on the car.

Fixed my typos above, too. Not much time for posting at the office these days. Working smarter is tapped out.

Kevin in Atlanta

FWIW, I have a rear crossmember for an 86.5 that I would love to unload for some cash. But, not sure it will fit your application.

GlenL

Oh yeah. I've got the right part on a shelf in my garage. Shipping to OZ will just kill, though.

jpitman2

Thanks guys. Sounds like I need to talk to my local wrench - he replaced somebody else's bent one recently, and it made me wonder if it was because he had one and made a $ on it, or they are not readily straightened. I dont think it will be too hard to locate one down here, we break up our own share of them.
jp 83 Euro S AT 47k

jpitman2

Spoke to local man, who said he has tried straightening them, but the bends always come back again. Not always in the same place, but they bend again. So the hunt begins. No rush, as it has been aligned with the bend in it, and everything seems to behave ok.
jp 83 S