A-Frame Droop

[AlfaLofa]

The workshop manual shows that at rest, the A frame is supposed to be horizontal.

My A frames both slope down from the chassis towards the wheel.

I have adjustable rear springs/shock absorbers which were messed with by a local garage a while back - so presumably the A frames can be returned to the horizontal by adjusting the spring platforms.

But to return to the horizontal do the springs need to be more or less compressed?

[upnorthelan]

Sounds like you'd like to lower the rear slightly. To accomplish this, decompress the springs by lowering the adjustable spring perches.

Not sure why they'd change the height at the shop unless corner weighting the car. Do you have rod end a-arms to adjust camber and toe?

Mike

[upnorthelan]

Sounds like you'd like to lower the rear slightly. To accomplish this, decompress the springs by lowering the adjustable spring perches.

Not sure why they'd change the height at the shop unless corner weighting the car. Do you have rod end a-arms to adjust camber and toe?

Mike

[worzel]

Hi

Steve- is it possible that the innermost bushes (ie those mounted to the chassis) have been tightened up with the incorrect orientation ie not at normal ride height. The weight of the car probably overcomes this to some extent but for the sake of loosening the 4 bolts then re-tightening after giving the car a good shove up and down it might be worth trying.

John

[mark030358]

Worzel,
I have adjustables too with minilites. I have from memory about 1/2 deg negative camber at the rear and the A frames are NOT parallel (almost). If I was to drop any lower the tyre would rub the inside of the wheel arch. And yess to lower you need to decompress the spring.

cheers

[AlfaLofa]

Thanks for the info!

I'll check the inner attachment bolts - although I think these should be ok.

I'll then have a crack at the springs.

[AHM]

Hi

Steve- is it possible that the innermost bushes (ie those mounted to the chassis) have been tightened up with the incorrect orientation ie not at normal ride height. The weight of the car probably overcomes this to some extent but for the sake of loosening the 4 bolts then re-tightening after giving the car a good shove up and down it might be worth trying.

John

Some years ago there was a lot of discussion around this. It shoudn't be used as a means of setting the ride height as you stress the bushes. But if you set it at normal ride height as John suggests it rules that out.

I did this on my car and it made all the difference!

[billwill]

I seem to recall a trick of loading the boot (trunk) with sacks of sand or bricks with the inner bushes loose, to get horizontal lower arms, then tighten the bolts/nuts.

[AlfaLofa]

So is this what I should do:

a. Reduce the compression on the springs
b. Loosen the inner A-frame bolts
c. Load the car with a couple of people
d. Retighten the inner bolts
e. Remove the loading (i.e. the people)
f. Adjust the spring compression to get the A-frames horizontal

Or should the A-frames be sloping down towards the wheels when the car is at rest and unladen???

[billwill]

I think the latter is true, but since most of us, including me, do not have adjustable springs, I really don't know. I think you might have to ask the racing members.