Re: [Amc-list] early american front suspension

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

There really isn't much to it, as you found out! The lower trunnion doesn't even have to be centered exactly -- it moves slightly forward and back as the suspension goes up and down anyway. When you're used to a specific way to put things together, the early American suspension does seem to defy logic. But then that's the simple beauty of it -- just slap it together and it works! No exact assembly required, if it goes together it will stay together and operate as designed! I agree, there's a beauty in simplicity.

One thing I do advise -- tack weld those lower cap nuts to the arms. Just one big tack is enough, on the outside edge where it can be seen. As you noted, the "threads" on the outside of the big acorn nut are shallow and just "bite" into the pushed in portion of the stamped steel arm (this is one of those things you have to see to really understand, for those I lost). Time, vibration, and a replacement or two enlarge the hole in the arm and cause the acorn nut to be not quite tight. It won't just back out, and doesn't need to be real tight (over tightening can strip the hole easily). The tack weld does two things: 1) prevents the nut from working loose in the arm and working off -- I actually had one do that long ago on a trip. I made a temporary repair (wrapped the end with a wrag and stuffed it in the hole... it worked for a few miles!) and limped the car to a garage, where it stayed for a week while a new lower trunnion came in. CARRY THE OLD LOWER TRUNNION WITH YOU!! You w
 on't likely need it all, just a lost cap.  Oh yeah, that other thing the weld does! 2) provides an easy visual cue that the trunnion is starting to seize. Inspect the weld a couple times a year. If it's cracked pull the trunnion apart, regrease (I always assemble with anti-seize then grease once assembled), then tack weld again. If it's not cracked all is well! 

----------------------
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 19:27:47 -0700
From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [Amc-list] early american front suspension
To: "AMC/Rambler owners, drivers and fans." <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx>,
	tomj@xxxxxxx
Message-ID: <200709071927.47240.tomj@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;  charset="us-ascii"

Oh my, that is one *peculiar* system!

The upper arm contains the difficult trunnion that freezes into one solid mass 
of corroded iron. I solved that. The lower trunnion, a decent design unless 
NEVER greased, is just as weird.

Typical of AMCs others decent TSMs, there't not a single hint on how you 
assemble the thing. I have the big-car trunnion down to a science, but the 
American defies a simple assembly system.

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)


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