Repack wheel bearings and checking spindles

[David Eastman]

Hey guys

My goal for this morning was to repack my wheel bearings and check my spindles for cracks. Took everything apart and cleaned up the spindles to check for cracks. They look fine. However while moving the spindles up and down I noticed a lot of play in the balljoints. I would recomend everyone to check there balljoints. The lower joint has about 1/4 inch of play in it.These joints do not have any grease fittings so the only way to service them is to take them apart. All of my joints were dry and after cleaning and relubeing them the spindles moved much easier.
These joint are very easy to remove. Unlike a normal car you do not have to remove the tention on the spring to remove the spindles. The reason is the lower control arm hits the frame preventing the lower control arm to travel down very far. One word of caution though. There are spacers on the ball joints that need to be put back in the right place. On my car the spacers were the same on the left and right side of the car. So I did one side at a time so I would get the spacers back in there proper location.

Gary I need two lower joints. If I remember correctly you said you had them in stock.

David

[02Panoz]

I wonder if using a crack test kit (penetrant/developer) might be advised for checking those. Better to be safe...

[GaryJonesMotorspor]

I have them David so just let me know when you want them....I'll put your name on a pair...I also replaced the ones on my school car...I have been working on it all day today also and my goal was to fire it up with the new 4 barrell/ MSD set up on it and get everything on the Pi dash to work again...Car fired right up and everything worked fine...I was concerned about getting the tack to work but I have a Pi users manual and it was easy to figure out...I'm going to try to post some pictures later tonight or tomorrow of the car with the fuel injection off, the factory style over-flow removed, the electric fan removed and that big ugly panle behind the shifter removed...It cleaned up really nice....Next is starting on the chassis set up so I'll keep you posted...I'm already working on the dog-ring transmission for it so I'm getting ready to roll........Gary

[David Eastman]

Gary,

You can save about 10lbs of dead weight if you get rid of the pi dash and its wireing harness. I will stop by on Tuesday to pick up the ball joints.

David

[Blue Streak 21]

I repacked my front wheel bearings Wednesday evening. The spindles looked to be in good shape. I think using a dye penetrant would be a very good idea, or magnafluxing them. Better safe than sorry.

Gary;
Can hardly wait to see how you engine comparment cleans up with the EFI removed and the carb repalcement sitting on top of a high rise intake.