1989 Electra Park Avenue

[Allegretto]

i just got a 89 electra park avenue and it needs new tie rod ends and there is something missing under the suspension, it was in a accident but other than cosmetic damage it runs perfectly fine. it has the 3800 in it and everything works save for the steering damage from its accident. if anybody got any info that can help i would greatly appreciate it

[Alibi]

Check with the park avenue forums too...you'll get more results there.

Where is the suspected missing part? One of the most common parts to dissapear is a splash shield that protects the compressor from being flooded or rocks thrown at it. It is just a metal plated bolted to the bottom of the subfram that sticks over the void under the compressor.

As far as the tie rod ends go, they are inexpensive...but you will need an alignment done after they are replaced so you might as well get any suspension work done while it is apart anyway.

Any more clues as to where you think somethign is missing?

[Allegretto]

its like a part thats connecting the bottom part of the "A" shaped part thats connected to the tire to a curved part that comes from the firewall the part that connects them are missing

[Alibi]

This?

http://www.lesabret.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3947

[Allegretto]

close, but it dont look exactly like it on the other side its just a straight piece without the red pars but it might be the same thing

[Alibi]

The factory bushings were black rubber and the factory bolt was smaller and is probably blackened from road grime.

[Allegretto]

yeah you might be right mind tellin me what it is cuz i dont have a clue

[Alibi]

It is fairly common for these to break, espeically the factory ones after they get old. If you were in a wreck lately, then it is probably broken. When they break, the bushings fall off so you could be left with just a section of the bolt and maybe a bushing or two.

If your car seems to roll a lot in turns, then yet another bit of evidence pointing at them. These are the "sway bar bushings" and they attach the sway bar to the A Arms to stabilize the car from rolling to and fro too much.

[Allegretto]

thats exactly what it is then cuz the car be all over the place and its hard to steer it. my mechanic said my tie rod ends were worn out also other than that the car is in perfect shape for only having paid $300 for it

[Alibi]

Tie rod ends are about $20 each, but you will need an alignment afterward. Might as well get it all done at once.

[Allegretto]

thank YOU so much you been the most help out of anybody on here. but that brings me to another ? when i did drive the car it was hard to turn the wheel and it turned more times than it was supposed to or i was not paying attention, but any idea what that might be? and how many times CAN a steering wheel turn?

[Alibi]

The wheel will spin a two or 3 times to go from completely straight to completely turned one way or the other...exacly how many I don't know.

As for the hard turning, it could be related to the bad tie rod ends and/or bushings. Another possibility would be the power steering rack could be going south, but that is semi-rare. Is there enough fluid in the power steering resevoir?

[Allegretto]

there pretty much aint none in there

[Alibi]

Well, fill it per full level as indicated on the cap fluid diipstick. Run it and if it starts to get low than you've got a leak somewhere.

[Allegretto]

the piece somebody told me it was the sway bar extender i got some pics on my cell phone but i dont know how to put them up yet