News:

Due to a technical issue, some recently uploaded pictures have been lost. We are investigating why this happened but the issue has been resolved so that future uploads should be safe.  You can also Modify your post (MORE...) and re-upload the pictures in your post.

Main Menu

1937 LaSalle front suspension

Started by bpowell, February 04, 2017, 03:22:53 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

bpowell

I took the front suspension on my 37 LaSalle apart to clean it up and have the shocks rebuilt and replace the springs.
Apple hydraulics rebuilt the shocks.
While I had it apart, I kept the parts separated side to side, and never took the lower control arms all apart at the same time.
I didn't notice any binding or misalignment of parts during dis-assembly.

Upon re-assembly, the left side went together with no issues.
The right side steering knuckle when attached at the upper shock/control arm, will not fit between the ends of the lower control arm.
It is displaced to far to the rear. I cant believe this is something I wouldn't have noticed on dis-assembly.
I checked parts number against the master parts book in case I did mix something up. Everything is correct.

Points to something bent, but nothing obvious. Again, I noticed nothing when I took it apart. You would have to force it now to get it back together.

Any thoughts?

Bill Powell

Steve Passmore

I've seen this a lot and not only on Cadillacs. Loosen the bolts holding the shock absorber and loosen the bolts on the lower wishbone where they bolt to the chassis. This should give you a little adjustment to get the control arm in.
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

bpowell

I have the shock and lower control arm mounts loose, and it does move a little.

I could force it in, but my concern is that something is bent or not correct.  Especially since I didn't notice anything on dis-assembly.

The left side lines up dead center on the lower arm.

This car was in a museum, and was "restored" sometime in the past. Many things were not done correctly.

I haven't been able to drive the car, due to the brakes. Re-doing them has led to this and other things.

Thanks,

Bill

Steve Passmore

You could have a slight bend in the control arm, these things happen after 80 years on the road bumping over curbs etc.   Do you have the shocks on the correct side?   Parts will come apart  when they are out of line but starting a thread that doesn't line up is not so easy.
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

bpowell

I have the shocks installed with the clamp bolt end of the arm forward. Which it appears, according to the shop manual, is correct.
Maybe you can confirm that for me.

Bill

Steve Passmore

Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

bpowell

Thank You Sir!

See what I can Figure out tomorrow.

Bill

Tom Beaver

Have you tried turning the upper eccentric pin?  If I remember correctly, turning the pin provides some lateral adjustment of the steering knuckle.

Tom Beaver

Steve Passmore

Its true what Tom has just suggested. A full turn of the eccentric top pin will move the control arm forwards or backwards but I would have presumed you had already tried that?  Top pin is your caster and camber adjustment of coarse.
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

bpowell

Yes, I know the upper eccentric adjusts castor and camber and moves the knuckle laterally. Mine is farther out than that.

Now that I have examined the parts more closely, there is evidence of the bottom knuckle bushing rubbing against the rear lower control arm arm.

I check the assembled dimensions of my lower arm against those in the shop manual and they all match up. Might be something tweaked a little, looks like I get to live with it.

Thanks to all of you for your help.

Bill

Steve Passmore

Go careful on 'Living with it' Bill. The control arm needs to be held in the centre of the two bottom arms and keep it there as you start to wind in the bush. If its touching the bush its too far back.   The suspension movement actually winds everything up on the threads. If you don't have things in the middle to start with the action can lock up before complete suspension travel. I have seen this happen.
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

bpowell

I got it together. I do have clearance for and aft on the lower bushing.

The knuckle is not in the middle on top-does have clearance both sides.  Adjustment for alignment might be limited for the caster.

Only other thing I can think of doing is getting another knuckle and see how that fits.

Bill