Strut Rod Curve?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
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From: grand prairie texas
Strut Rod Curve?
I took both of my strut rods apart to press in new bushings and they both appear to have a curve in them. The curve is very uniforn thats why I think they are supposed to be theat way. Are they supposed to be that way or could they both have a bend in them?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
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From: Minnesota
Don't worry about the bend. Both strut rods on my 75 have a bend to them which I'm guessing has to be factory. When I had them off and set one on top of the other the angle was exactly the same.
Last edited by jdmick; Dec 3, 2005 at 08:53 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Connecticut, USA
No they should be straight. Alignment shops have been bending them since 1963! Some places will heat them up and straighten them back but I never liked that approach. Here's pic from the job I just finished and it had both rods bent, rotted bushings,and 1 correct head,1- replacement head. The 63-74 used the sm head, the 75+ used the large head and service parts were the lg head. Sometimes in extreme travel the lg head will bind in an earlier car. Check it to see and grind a relief in the support if needed-but only a small radius not enough to weaken it.
If it were me I'd replace them, they're about $60 each with new bushings installed.
Gary
If it were me I'd replace them, they're about $60 each with new bushings installed.
Gary
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Gary, those rods look like the problem has been caused by a twist in the rod or if someone has bent the arm in a way that the bend is not parallel with the eye. If an alignment shop bent the arms on my car they did a nice job of it. 
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
Originally Posted by wnmech
I took both of my strut rods apart to press in new bushings and they both appear to have a curve in them. The curve is very uniforn thats why I think they are supposed to be theat way. Are they supposed to be that way or could they both have a bend in them?