Upper control bushings

[David12345]

Recently bought a '73 GT and have not gotten a good manual yet. The car was pulling to the left, so I took it to the local garage for alignment. On the drivers side, there is 1 spacer about 1/2 inch thick on the right side, and none on the left or on the passenger side at all. I took pics, but haven't been able to upload them yet. Any suggestions or pics that would show each item that is installed?
Thanks,
David

[David12345]

I still can't figure out how to show the pics, but they are in my album
David 12345. Help!

[namba209]

David, on the left side of the home page is the Opel Tech Center block, click on the Interchange Parts Manual and you'll be able to down load an Illustrated Parts Breakdown of the front suspension in a PDF file. There are 2-3 pages of the front suspension that may help. Also, when you post a thread, if you scroll down the page a bit, you'll see the manage attachments button. Click on that and you'll be able to attach pics from your files to the thread. You may have to resize the pics for them to be accepted but any photo program should do that, if you don't have a program to resize the pics, Irfanview can be downloaded from this site to do that for you. HTH.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by David12345 Recently bought a '73 GT and have not gotten a good manual yet. The car was pulling to the left, so I took it to the local garage for alignment. On the drivers side, there is 1 spacer about 1/2 inch thick on the right side, and none on the left or on the passenger side at all. I took pics, but haven't been able to upload them yet. Any suggestions or pics that would show each item that is installed? Thanks, David

Sounds like the caster is out. Assuming the bushings themselves are in reasonable order, have the alignment checked.

The upper a-arms can be shifted fore and aft to adjust caster....this is done by varying thickness' of spacers on the upper control arm shaft. The cumulative thickness (for both sides) should be .480".

Bob

[GTJIM]

Here is a thread about Castor adjustment:

http://www.opelgt.com/forums/3a-fron...-question.html

It is quite possible that there needs to be different washers on LH & RH sides as the whole suspension is very prone to bending and bolts working loose - thus enlarging bolt holes and letting things move about.

Get yourself a copy of Brookland Books "Opel GT Owners Workshop Manual"
It is still in print and often available on EBay. It has excellent line drawings of most bits that need repair and good explanations. This book:

http://www.opelgt.com/forums/101585-post3.html

Also go to OpelGT.com Lite on the LHSide of the Home page and seek out front suspension under Section 3A. A look through the threads & postings will be extremely useful.

Castor specs for GT: unladen: + 0deg 40' to + 3deg 40'
normally loaded: + 1 degree to + 4 degrees

Quite an allowable varriation - shoot for around +2 degrees LHS +2 1/2 deg RHS to allow for the camber (curve) of the road surface.

[hallgeir]

Originally Posted by GTJIM Get yourself a copy of Brookland Books "Opel GT Owners Workshop Manual" It is still in print and often available on EBay. It has excellent line drawings of most bits that need repair and good explanations.

You can also order it from their website: http://www.brooklands-books.com

[David12345]

I'm gaining .. on the passenger side of the car the shims (toothed washers for castor adjustment equaling .48") were not there, causing the control arm to be squeezed in by the bolt. Ordered from OGTS.
I am still looking for a good manual. It seems there are so many various manuals and I want to get the right one. I went to Brooklands site but did not come up with OPEL GT Owner's Workshop Manual" OWM727 .. other names and numbers, but not that one. I've looked for purple books, green books, etc .. and I can't seem to match names/colors/numbers up..any good advice would be appreciated .. and I certainly appreciate all that has been given.
David

[hallgeir]

David, go to the website link in my post # 6. At the top left corner click "cars by marque" and select Opel. Scroll down at the right side of the screen, and you will find it.

[GTJIM]

Some closer to home?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/68-73...spagenameZWD1V

[soybean]

Originally Posted by David12345 I am still looking for a good manual. It seems there are so many various manuals and I want to get the right one. I went to Brooklands site but did not come up with OPEL GT Owner's Workshop Manual" OWM727 .. other names and numbers, but not that one. I've looked for purple books, green books, etc .. and I can't seem to match names/colors/numbers up..any good advice would be appreciated .. and I certainly appreciate all that has been given. David

Here's another site for manuals. HTH, Jarrell
http://www.books4cars.com/result1.as...mageField.y=91

[jordan]

I only have (2) crowned washers, (1) thick spacer, (1) thin spacer for either side of the UCA. Is there any consistent configuration for the spacers of the upper control arms? Is there a way to set caster when the suspension is out of the car with out an alignment set up?

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by jordan I only have (2) crowned washers, (1) thick spacer, (1) thin spacer for either side of the UCA. Is there any consistent configuration for the spacers of the upper control arms? Is there a way to set caster when the suspension is out of the car with out an alignment set up?

Not accurately. I've found that there are not two GT front crossmembers that are alike. The upper pivot tubes are almost always welded in at different locations, which alters the caster angle.

That said, just put the thick washers at the 'rear' of the crossmember, and the thin ones at the 'front'. Then, when it's in the car, have the alignment checked, and alter it from there as needed.

For more spirited driving, place ALL the caster shims to the rear of the car, and none up front. (I tend to go one step further and machine down the front of the pivot-tube and add more rear shims to gain even more caster). Yea, I like caster!

Check for a-arm clearance issues if you go this route however. I like a lot of caster because it centers the wheel better, and provides for some camber-gain on turn-in, which the GT sorely needs. If you need, I have some 12mm ID washers that are .112" thick (just under 3 mm or .118"), and I use these to alter caster on both GT and Manta front suspensions. I could bring a handful with me to Carlisle, if needed.

[Anonymous D]

(1) Wheel alignment, is meant to be done with the suspension on the car, as only then can actual wheel deflection can be measured with reference to the road surface.

(2) On a GT upper front suspension, there are 4 washers (which go on the outside of each bushing), there are 2 wider toothed shims (which go on the side of the cross member towards the rear of the car), and 2 thinner toothed shims (which go on the side of the cross member towards the front of the car.

These details and installation procedures, were covered and illustrated, in the GT Front Suspension Tech Tip article of the OMC Blitz newsletter of December 2006.

[jordan]

Does this look about right bob? My shims only totaled .470" will .010" from .480" matter? The left of the photos is the front of the car.

[GTJIM]

That is where Bob has advised you should put them. Have to check the alignment after the suspension is on the car to make sure nothing is bent so much that it is all out of specification though. A wheel alignment check is pretty much a necessity after a front suspension rebuild amyway!