jpuskas

My 65 coupe has been handling poorly, felt like some shims possibly fell out. I put the car on the lift today and noticed that the bushing on the lower driver side strut rod has been damaged (rubber squished out). Looking closer at the rod, it appears to be twisted. The eye holes of the rod are not parallel to the bolt on either end. Is it possible to put the rod in backwards? The passenger side strut looks fine. Did someone have it flipped the wrong way when they installed it? Or do I need to buy new rods? I've attached a pic.

Easy Rhino

I think that your description "twisted" is correct, assuming that the other end is not cocked as the pictures show yours is.

RestoMike

I would be surprised if the rod is twisted. Most of the bushing shows to be gone allowing the rod to **** itself. There's just not that must torque generated in that area to be able to twist the rod. Wouldn't do or purchase anything till you've removed the rod.

Bluestripe67

I don't think it's twisted. Look at the condition of the cam end. I'll bet the bushing is shot letting the rod look twisted. Dennis

6T7L71CPE

If you have the wheels hanging I believe it will twist there.

DansYellow66

Probably from the hanging suspension. The bushing is probably an incorrect solid rubber type and basically shot.

Mike Ward

This is a perfect illustration of why using poly bushings in this location would be a really bad idea.

GUSTO14

When the swing arm moves up and down it travels in an arc. The control rod is hinged to move vertically (in an arc also) but in a plane 90 degrees out of the swing arms plane. When you lift the car and the suspension is hanging down it is at the bottom of it's arc and the control rod will appear twisted in the manner shown. The original rubber bushings will compensate for this as the rear suspension moves up an down. Keep in mind that typical suspension movement in the rear is within only a fraction of what you are seeing here.

With the car sitting on the ground and the weight is on the wheels, you should see little if any twist. Having said that, it does appear your bushings are due for replacement.

Good luck... GUSTO

jpuskas

Thanks for the responses. The car is actually sitting on the ground when I took the picture (on a parking lift so weight is on the suspension). Also the other end of this strut appears to be slightly twisted in the other direction (bushing looks ok). I think I might just buy a couple new struts with the rubber bushings already pressed in. Looks to be $90 for a set at Paragon.

TCracingCA

I don't generally like stock parts, but I hate reproduction stuff imitation parts of stock ones even more (especially if sourced from foreign Countries, but then these are 47-51 year old parts we are talking about, that may need to go in the trash or onto your personally garage Art display board!

Well measure the bushing eyes on both sides (eye to eye distance) to see if it is bent and set the rod on a level surface and check it (flip it all four sides), strip the paint and check for cracks with a simple dye/powder test!

Chuck Gongloff

Looks like you're missing the strut rod bushing caps...

rtruman

Looks like someone has recently ben there look at carter pin and painted parts. Have you had this car long .

JohnZ

The steel caps only go on the inboard bushings, so the rod end can be moved within the bracket by the camber adjusting bolt. Both ends of the strut rod are the same diameter, and they're parallel - they can be installed either way.

Thorson

Is that white lithium grease being applied in the photo? And if it is, is that correct and necessary?

JohnZ

No, it isn't correct or necessary, and it will make it more difficult for that joint to maintain correct camber position.

Thorson

Perfect, thanks. I changed the upper bracket, shock mounts, cam bolts and rods a few weeks ago and thought maybe I'd screwed up yet again.