preload suspension

[DGraber460@aol.com]

The "preload" procedure is nothing more than lowering the car on it's wheels 
_before_  tightening the bolts to the subframe. I put some cribbing under the 
tires to allow enough room under the car to tighten everything up. These 
bolts must be very tight or you will develop a "clunk" at that chassis mount. 
BTDT. This locks the bushings in the static (at rest) position. If you 
tighten them in the totally unloaded position, then at rest and normal usage 
they will be under considerable rotational force (read torque). This could 
cause premature stress, tearing, and failure.

I took mine apart this morning to replace the control arm bushings, only to 
find the bolts (which were probably about 60-70 ft/lbs torque) were allowing 
the perfectly good bushings to move on the bolt. I purchased new grade 8 
metric bolts that fit the bushing with less slop, installed and tightened as 
much as I possibly could (didn't use a cheater pipe but gave it everything I 
had). The clunk is gone! I now have set of new bushings on the shelf. The new 
Boge Turbo-gas seem to be really nice. The car even sets a little lower, 
which I wanted anyway. May be just my imagination and/or wishful thinking.
The joy is back. Now I just need more HP.

Dennis Graber
Denver