DeTomaso Mailing List: December 2000, Message #156

you really need to 4-corner balance (not just align) the car.
> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Chance Dorsey [SMTP:chance.dorsey@madbear.com]
> Sent:	Monday, December 04, 2000 3:01 PM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	Re: Sway Bar Mounting Bolt Part 2
> 
> 
> Dennis-
> 
> Good point!  And after much more inspection I've notice some things that
> really raise even more concern.  First, I had assumed that the problem
> was from age and stock bolts which I plan to convert to higher quality,
> both on the bolts and the brackets anyway.  
> 
> Also, several months ago I had a four wheel alignment done.  During, the
> alignment it was determined that the left rear bottom control arm had no
> more available shims to remove.  Based on my post a few months ago, I
> understood that this is common on cars this age where the rear end will
> collapse in on itself.  But what was interesting was that this was just
> on one side, the left side.  Further inspection reveals that it seems to
> be just the top rear control arm mount on the left side that has
> collapsed because it looks as though the rear left wheel is setting
> further back in the wheel well then the right wheel.  (I hope you're
> following this)  More then likely, I'm sure I'll be converting to
> adjustable upper control arms for the rear in order to extend the top
> control arms further.  This brings up another question.  Is it OK for
> control arms to be different lengths? (not top to bottom which is
> understood on this car, but right to left)
> 
> Also, the car is leaning to the left slightly. I would really like to
> know the specs for the 4-wheel balance.  So I can determine if this is a
> weight problem or a spring problem.  The shocks are Koni's but appear to
> be rather old.  And remember, I've had this car since '83 and have the
> same shocks.
> 
> Based on this new info can you or anyone comment further.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Chance Dorsey
> #5365
> 
> 
> "Antenucci, Dennis" wrote:
> > 
> > Chance,
> > you need to address "why" it broke off....Was it just age and stock
> bolts
> > and brackets? This is a big pre-track tech session find but usually
> occurs
> > on "front" brackets...when was the last time you had the car 2-wheel
> > aligned?  I would suspect you may have a 4-corner balance problem....We
> had
> > the 4-corner scales and found some cars way off by as much as 200 lbs or
> > more per corner or something like that....use billet sway bar brackets
> with
> > good grade#8 bolts
> > FWIW
> > MD
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Chance Dorsey [SMTP:chance.dorsey@madbear.com]
> > > Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 4:46 PM
> > > To:   Multiple recipients of list
> > > Subject:      Sway Bar Mounting Bolt Sheared Off
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > One of my rear sway bar mounting bolts broke off.  I was curious if
> any
> > > one on the forum has had to replace one of these.  It doesn't look
> like
> > > you can remove it from the back.  So do I just grind it off and weld a
> > > new bolt on or is there a secret fix for this that I don't know about.
> > >
> > > Chance "Looking for a reason to buy a MIG welder even if it's just to
> > > weld a stikin' bolt on"  Dorsey
> > >
> > > #5365