Ford Thunderbird 1966 - Description and Operation; Front Suspension

3-9
PART
3-2
SUSPENSION
Section
Page
Section
Page
1
Description
and Operation
3-9
Front
Suspension
3-9
Rear
Suspension
3-10
2
In-Car
Adjustments
and
Repairs
3-10
Upper Ball
Joint Replacement Arm In
Car 3-10
Stabilizer
Repair
3-11
3
Removal
and
Installation
3-11
Front Wheel
Spindle
3-11
Front Shock
Absorber
3-12
Front
Spring
3-12
Upper Arm
3-13
Lower Arm
3-14
Rear
Shock
Absorber
3-15
Rear
Spring
3-15
Major
Repair
Operations
3-16
Upper
Arm
Overhaul Arm
Removed
3-16
Bushing
and
Inner Shaft
Replacement
3-16
Ball
Joint
Replacement
3-16
Lower Arm
Overhaul
Arm
Removed
3-16
Ball
Joint
Replacement
3-17
Rear
Spring
Overhaul
Spring
Removed
3-17
Front
Hangar
Assembly
3-17
Rear Shackle and
Hangar
Assembly
3-17
Spring
Leaves and
Tie Bolt
3-17
DESCRIPTION AND
OPERATION
FRONT
SUSPENSION
Each
front
wheel
rotates
on
a
spindle.
The upper
and lower
ends of
the spindle
are
attached to
upper
and
lower
ball
joints
which
are
mounted
to an upper
and lower
arm
respective
ly. The
upper arm
pivots on a
bushing
and
shaft
assembly
which
is
bolted to
the underbody.
The
lower
arm
pivots
on a
bolt mounted in
a
bracket which
is
bolted to
the
underbody
(Fig.
1). A
coil
spring
seats between
the
upper
arm
and
the
top
of the
spring
housing. A
double-acting
shock
ab
sorber is
bolted
to the
upper
arm
and
the
top
of
the
spring
housing.
The
swiveling
action of
the
ball
joints
allow
the wheel
and
spindle
as
semblies to move
up
and
down with
changes
in
road surface.
The
swiveling
SHOCK
ABSORBER UPPER
RETAINING
NUT
ball
joints
also
permit
the
spindles
and
wheels to
be
turned to
the left
or
right
by
the
steering
gear
and
linkage.
The
pivoting
action of the suspen
sion
arms
provides
up
and
down
movement for the
spindles and
wheels
as
required
by
bumps or
depressions
in the road
surface. The coil
springs,
shock
absorbers,
and
stabilizer
bar
control
the
front
suspension
up
and
down
movements.
CALIPER
ASSEMBLY
ROTOR
AND HUB
ASSEMBLY
DUST
SHIELD
WHEEL
BEARING
ADJUSTMENT
NUT
^
NUT
LOCK
F1203-B
FIG.
1
Front
Suspension