Re: [Amc-list] New toy ...I need a TSM

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Plan on rebuilding the entire front suspension. The usual cause for what happened is that the steering knuckle has pulled out of the lower trunnion. This is caused by blatant neglect -- hasn't been greased in ages. The other joints will be in similar condition. I'm assuming the wheel went up and back in the fender well. If you're lucky you didn't bend any of the arms much and they can be tweaked back into shape (pretty easy since they are stamped steel). If the joint comes apart while traveling the upper arms usually get a real nasty twist, and they may need to be replaced. Chances are that the joint came apart and the seller put it back together to move the car. Luckily the lower trunnions are easy to replace and find, and aren't expensive (< $100 should replace both). The trunnion is slightly softer metal than the steering knuckle, so the trunnion will go first by design. 

All the joints ride on standard 5/8" threads on those models (58-63 American, 58-61 big cars). The lower trunnion has a threaded hole, the steering knuckle a threaded stud that screws into it. Holds things together and provides a pivot. Simple engineering! Think about it -- how much wear does it take to pull a 5/8" nut off the bolt? One heck of a lot! That's what happens when the car isn't greased for YEARS and THOUSANDS of miles. So don't blame the design -- it's sound.

The upper trunnion can be a problem. See Tom's page on that! (www.wps.com, the Rambler section).  

=============================
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 19:40:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: WILLIAM SERCKIE <realtorbill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

  Today I unexpectedly scored a super cool 1963 American 440...It did not sell on e-bay and the seller was local (87 miles away)  so I went ans saw and bought...52xxxoriginal miles, new interior carb and radiator.
   
  The bad news...I lost either a tie rod, tie rod end, or trunion as I was putting it on the trailer, 
  and the passenger front wheel collapsed...got home too late to start to investigate.
   
  Does anyone have a  spare TSM for a 1963 American, I will gladly purchase it...I'd rather buy from a list member than e-bay if at all possible..

-- 
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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