[Healeys] Suspension Changes & Now Front End Vibration

[John Soderling]

Alan,
One shock was rebuilt two years ago (5,000 miles) and the other 11 years ago 
(45,000 miles).  They were working fine two weeks ago.  When I installed the 
Torrington bearings and the Polyurethane bushes and had the car jacked up, I 
did a manual check of the shock's action, checked the fluid level (fine) and 
the mounting bolts (tighten one a little more).  So the shocks are good. 
I'm going to order the original rubber type trunnion bushes and install them 
and see if that solves the problem.  I'm also thinking that these hard 
plastic type bushes have got to transmit more "shock" to and be harder on 
the shock arm/housing connections and the mounting bolts.
Thanks.
Vrooom vrooom
John

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Alan Seigrist" <healey.nut at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2011 3:45 PM
To: "John Soderling" <bighealey at astound.net>; "Healey list" 
<healeys at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Suspension Changes & Now Front End Vibration

> When was the last time you rebuilt your shocks?
>
> On 5/30/11, John Soderling <bighealey at astound.net> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> Two weeks ago I replaced the King-pin/trunnion oilite thrust washers with
>> Torrington needle-bearings on my BN4 and what a nice reduction in the
>> steering
>> effort, especially below 40 MPH.  I also replaced the rubber top link 
>> bushes
>> connecting the trunnion with the shock arms with the hard polyurethane
>> bushings.
>>
>> I've noticed that the front suspension feels a little harsher and I now 
>> have
>> a
>> front end vibration causing scuttle-shake over 55/60 MPH on pavements 
>> that
>> are
>> rough textured or wavy that was not there before the work.  I'm not 
>> talking
>> about really bad chuck-hole type pavement but pavements that are not nice
>> and
>> smooth.  I had my wire wheel guy check the on-car-balancing of my front
>> tires
>> and he said they are spot on good.  The king-pins are good and when
>> installing
>> the needle-bearings the up-lift was set at less 0.002".  My first thought 
>> is
>> that this vibration is due to the very hard polyurethane bushings.
>>
>> Has anyone who has switched to the hard top trunnion bushings had this
>> experience?  Thanks for any thoughts based on experience.
>>
>> John Soderling & Erika the Red
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>
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