Re: Steering center-link pin and bushing

Posted by Packard Newbie On 2019/3/11 1:27:07

Hey Don, thanks for weighing in; I have 'intended' to do this for some time but kept putting it off because it was such a bear of a place to get at, but once I pulled the engine out, it was so accessible I thought it would be quite straight forward. I had been told by Fred Kanter, that if you grabbed the center arm where the tie rods connect and try and move the whole assembly vertically, up and down, there should not be any appreciable looseness. Mine would go up and down 1/2" to maybe 5/8" and thus I ordered the new pin and bushing. when I compare the new bushing with the old, it is such that you can feel a slight ridge when sliding your fingers up and down the OD's of the two bushings when held one on top of the other. I'd guess 20 thou. The old bushing, while quite sloppy on the old pin re the inside diameter, is a tolerance fit going back into the center link hole. Therefore, I'm not surprised the new one won't go in. I'm not sure if this is just lack of tolerance on the repro manufacturing, or if it's supposed to be that way and reaming is standard procedure (like with king pin fitment). It even occurred to me, it might be the wrong pin, but it is so identical looking to the original that I suspect the former rather than the latter. There is a bit of a machine shop here in my small town and I can probably get it machined to fit, but that would seem unduly complicated and costly for a pin that should fit. Lots of guys have R&R'd these things and I was just hoping for somebody to weigh in with some guidance. I think the arm does have a number on it, Don and I'll check it next time I'm at the car and advise. In the meantime, ANYBODY know???? Thanks, Chris