Re: [Amc-list] A front suspension idea!

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

-- John Elle <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> O.K., guys,
>
> Take a look at the following URL.
>
> http://www.classicnova.com/product.asp?specific=1555

> WhadaUthink? Any Takers.

Oh I think you could fab up an A-arm that would replace the AMC 
arm-plus-strut but what's the gain? In fact, 40 years later, AMC lower arm 
systems aren't falling off. The only problem -- serious enough -- is the 
TOTAL CRAP QUALITY of replacement strut bushings, and urethane seems to fix 
that. When you get good ones, it works great!

The current AMC scheme more or less has the geometry of a lower A-arm, 
except the rearmost pivot twists the single arm.


<http://wps.com/AMC/Front-suspension/images/front-susp-assy-on-car2.jpg>

The most serious problem is that the strut pivot point is outward from the 
lower arm inner pivot. You can see it somewhat in the photo above; the 
inner arm bushing is waaay back in the x-member, and the strut bushing is 
right under the frame rail. To make a real A-arm it would need to move that 
inward, in the same longitudinal position as the inner bushing. The strut 
bushing let them get away with that error.

You might end up with a rear arm half that reached back, around and above 
the frame rail to meet a pivot point, but it might be where the exhaust 
wants to live or something.

Oh yeah, there's no place forward of the engine x-member to put suspension 
guts, so it's gotta go behind. Since it bears crash-into-shopping-mall-curb 
it's gotta be strong -- the strut system certainly is that.

I don't think it's broke enough to fix. It's unaesthetic I admit, but then 
again -- it lasts half a century on the road, how bad can it really be?

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