[Healeys] Fw: 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
>>> _______________________________________________