sunbeamtiger.co.uk

I have a feeling it is.

I've taken the front suspension off of the car and stripped it down to piece part level to clean and repaint it but when I got it apart, some of the parts looked a bit dodgy.

I decided to have them shot blasted so I could have a really good look at them and this is what I found.

Lower wishbones





The passenger side wishbones is 7mm narrower at the bushes than the driver's side and the bushes are out of line.





(Yes, that is the aluminium pipe from a Dyson. It happens to be the right size). The dimension across the drivers side bushes is to manual.

The upper wishbones look like this.


and also seem to be twisted across their other axis.

Not a problem, but curious, the shocker brackets are slightly different.






It looks like either there has been some accident damage at some point or, as they've been changed before, the bushes have been pressed in a little enthusiastically, but that wouldn't explain the top wishbones being as they are.

To say I am completely and utterly p****d off is an understatement.

Anyone got a set of good upper and lower wishbones they don't want?

I am afraid that I have to agree with your diagnosis.
All the wishbones are scrap.
Accident damage is the most likely culprit, although some people do get very heavy handed when removing lower wishbone bushes.

However, that does not explain the top wishbone difference.

A full alignment check of the chassis and crossmember is essential. Hopefully the chassis is okay, but the crossmember could be distorted.

Update.
I had a go at salvaging the buggered lower wishbone today. It didn't go well.
I managed to get the bushes realigned but instead of having an outside dimension of 307mm stated in the WSM it is at 302mm.
Oh well.

Sorry to hear about the set back. I would think you will be able tp find replacements easily enough over there though. How does the cross member look I can take measurments off mine if needed.

Cheers Mal

Hi Mal,
that's a wonderful offer mate.
I think the cross member is ok (fingers crossed). All the welds look ok with no cracked so hopefully I can reuse it.
Thanks again.

Hi Martin,

That is never a good find and judging by your shocker brackets, it's proof that there has been repairs made. Keep you eyes open on Ebay, the suspension arms come up from time to time.

Regards, Robin.

Hi Martin, look on ebay ,there is 1 lower wishbone on there today.

Rob

Hi Rob, thanks for the heads up.

Cheers.

If you want fully rebuilt, straight and ready to go suspension contact randy willet (he sells on ebay as Oneoffive) he sells them as fully sreviced items ready to go.. generally wants a useable core.. so you might be in trouble there.. most A arms are damaged by people pressing the pins and balljoints out poorly.

looks like randy has a kit ready to roll:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Sunbeam- ... 0710808695

Randy's stuff does look good but he wants good returns and I can't do that at present.

I was talking to Randy yesterday via e-mail about reinforcing the cross member which is something I intend to do.
His work on that is very thorough and very impressive. I don't think I will be going into the depth that he does.
He said that he has shipped complete units over here. Anyone on here had one from him?

Also, does anyone fancy copying the CW article about cross member reiforcement and sending it to me please. Issue 33 I think.

am sure he would sell without cores.. just add a little .. that would make you "tiger260"?

michael-king wrote:am sure he would sell without cores.. just add a little .. that would make you "tiger260"?

Shhhh.

Check out postings Dec 19th & Jan 13th in tech hints for further guidance on suspension strenghening.

Do you mean these Bob?

http://sunbeamtiger.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=544

http://www.sunbeamtiger.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=761

I was hoping for some pics too so I don't do it wrong.

Perhaps someone with the Cat's Whiskers No 33 article will scan it onto the forum then it will help everyone.