Ford Thunderbird 1967 - Part 3-2: Suspension

3-9
PART
3-2-
Suspension
Section
Page
1
Description
and
Operation
3-9
Front
Suspension
3-9
Rear
Suspension
3-9
2
In-Vehicle
Adjustments and Repairs
3-12
Upper
Ball
Joint
Replacement
Arm
in
V
eh icle
3-12
Lower Ball
Joint
Replacement
Arm
in
Vehicle
3-12
Stabilizer
Repair
3-12
Front
Suspension Lower
Arm
Strut
and /or
Bushing
3-13
3
Removal
and
Installation
3-13
Hoisting
Instructions
3-13
Section
Page
Front
Suspension
Lower
Arm
3-13
Front
Spring
3-14
Front
Suspension Upper Arm
3-14
Front Wheel
Spindle
3-14
Rear
Spring
3-15
Rear
Suspension Lower
Arm
3-15
Rear
Suspension Upper
Arm
3-16
Track Bar
3-16
Shock
Absorbers
3-16
4
Major
Repair
Operations
3.17
Front
Suspension Upper Arm Bushings
Arm
Removed
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
respectively.
The
upper arm pivots
on a
bushing
and shaft
assembly
which is
bolted
to
the
frame. The
lower arm pivots
on a bolt in the
front crossmember (Fig. 1). A
coil
spring
seats between the lower
arm and the
top
of
the
spring
hous
ing. A
double action shock absorber
is bolted to
the arm and the
top
of
the
spring
housing.
The
swiveling
action of the
ball
joints allows the wheel and spindle
assemblies
to move
up
and down
with
changes
in
road
surfaces.
The
swiveling
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
an
up-and-down
movement
for
the
spindles and
wheels
as
required
by
bumps or
de
pressions in
the road surface.
The
coil
springs and
shock absorbers con
trol
this
up-and-down
movement.
The
stabilizer
bar (Fig.
1)
is at
tached
to each lower arm
to dampen
road shocks
and
minimize road
sway.
The
struts,
which
are connected be
tween the suspension
lower arms
and
the
frame crossmember
prevent the
suspension arms
from
moving
for
ward
and
backward.
REAR
SUSPENSION
Each
rear
wheel,
hub,
and
brake
drum
assembly
is
bolted
to the
rear
axle shaft
flange. The
wheel and
axle
shaft
assembly
rotates
in
the
rear
axle
housing.
The rear axle
housing
and wheel
assembly
is
suspended from
the
frame
by
a
coil
spring
and shock
absorber
at
each side of the vehicle
and
by
three
arms
(one upper and
two
lower)
which pivot in the frame
members
(Fig.
2).
Each coil
spring
is
mounted be
tween a
lower
seat,
which
is
welded
to
the axle
housing,
and
an
upper
seat which
is
integral with the
frame.
The
upper
end of the rear shock
absorber
is
attached
to the
spring
upper
seat;
the lower end
is
bolted
to
a
bracket on
the
axle
housing.
The upper suspension arm attaches
to
the right
side of the axle
housing
through an eccentric
pivot bolt and
a bracket which is welded to the
top
of the
housing.
The forward end of
the arm
is
connected
by
a pivot
bolt
to
the
frame
crossmember.
Each lower
suspension
arm at
taches
to one end of
the axle
housing
through
a pivot bolt
and a
bracket
which is
welded
to the
underside of
the
housing. The forward
end of the
arm
is
connected
by
a pivot
bolt
to
the
frame side
member.
A
track
bar is
connected
between
the
upper
arm
bracket
on
the
axle
housing
and
a
mounting
bracket
on
the left frame
side
rail.
All
of
the
above
mentioned
com
ponents
work
together
to
control
the
position
and
the
movement
of
the
rear
axle
housing
and
wheel
assem
bly.
The coil
springs
and
shock
ab
sorbers
cushion
road
shocks
and
bumps.
The
suspension
arms
prevent
forward
or
rearward
movement
of
the
axle
housing
and
wheel
assem
bly
with
respect
to
the
frame.
The
pivoting
action
of
the
suspension
arms
provides
an
up-and-down
movement
for
the
axle
and
wheel
assembly
as
required
by
changes
in
the
road
surface.
The
track
bar
holds
the
assembly
in
proper
align
ment
with
the
frame
to
prevent
lateral
swaying
action.