Question re: initial front suspension install/setup

[Silverbullit]

I've read to initially set the front control arms @ 10 degrees to the crossbeam before tightening the 'flanbloc' (bushing) pinch bolt. To me, it seems more logical to wait until the car is on the ground, weighted, and with the ride-height set before tightening this bolt, thus minimizing or eliminating any 'pre-loaded bushing bind-up'. Why should the bushing be locked down so early? Thanks

[Flieger]

The bushings are supposed to twist. There is no sliding motion between either the inner diameter or outer diameter of the bushing and the arm or housing, respectively.

[304065]

Brian,

It is a good question you ask. The FWM says that you should not torque the banana bolts in the rear until the car is at laden ride height, so they don't tear. But up front they just tell you ten degrees without specifying whether that is laden or not. Perhaps the ten degrees is a proxy for the correct setting at the FACTORY ride height that would allow the mechanic to tighten it up while the car was on the lift.

In any event, we know that the car will experience bump and rebound both of which will displace the hub center from the ten degree location, and as Max correctly says, all that motion is accomodated by the rubber, which is of course why the clamps are tightened on the bushing OD.

So if I were you I would 1) see whether the bushings move AT ALL inside the crossmember with the pinch bolts slackened. I bet they do not move one bit, even with the bolts taken out and sitting on the next-door neighbor's mantlepiece. If they do move, then 2) tighten them up with the car at your preferred ride height, then jack it up and use your iPhone iHandy level app-- zero out on the crossmember tube, then measure on the control arm bottom and it bet it's ten degrees. . .

[Silverbullit]

Thanks, those are both good answers. I do realize that the rubber 'twists' inside the metal bushings, and I wanted to have that twist minimized when the car is at static, laden weight, and therefore not 'pre-loaded. I will measure and index my arms to crossmember, then reset the bushings if necessary before clamping down. I want it to be a bit lower than factory. Thanks again, brian