I decided to use my FFR front LCAs rather than trying to sell them. The FFR LCAs look really nice since they are tubular, but probably don't really add much to the handling of the car. In order to get the old LCAs off and put on the new FFR ones, I basically had to take the entire front suspension back off of the car and swap them out. Once getting the new ones on, I noticed that the nylon LCA bushing was turning in the LCA housing. I didn't like it working like that since the bushing isn't lubricated and isn't suppose to turn in the LCA. The bushing is suppose to move around the metal sleeve, especially since that is where the lubrication is.
This photo clearly shows that I'm getting plenty of pressure on the steel sleeve once everything is torqued down. Notice the sleeve impression on the steel washer.
The below link is one of the message threads where myself and several other guys had the same problem.
http://www.ffcobra.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/ubb/get_topic/f/1/t/076001.html#000018
In order to press the sleeves and bushings out of the LCA I had to buy more tools! I found the above Arbor Press at Harbor Freight for less than $30.00.
Pressing the sleeves out!
The LCA with the sleeves now pressed out.
With the sleeves already pressed out, the bushing slides out really easy by hand.
I first attempted to fix the problem by sanding down one of the steel sleeves to a smaller size. Sanding down a steel sleeve in this manner was very labor intensive and didn't really fix the problem, even after taking it down by .015".
Starting measurement.
Sanding down the sleeve the SLOW painful way..
45 minutes later.. whew! Unfortunately, it didn't fix the problem.
After putting things together and taking things apart numerous times, I finally got the problem fixed. As recommended by someone on the ffrog forum, I chamfered the inside edge of the of the LCA housing like shown above. PROBLEM SOLVED!
After getting the LCA issued fixed, I received my brand new Halibrand spinners that are suppose to mount on my Halibrand wheels. I quickly noticed that the spinner attachment was going to interfere with how the front wheels were suppose to mount on the car.
Here's a photo of another builder's car that has the same wheel/spinner/tire combination that I plan to use. He's using different front spindles, so he didn't run into the problem that I have.
I explained my problem to my cousin Tim. He works in a Machine Shop and was able to help out with getting my new Halibrand Spinners to fit over the front wheel rotors. Thanks to his help my wheels will now fit with the spinners attached and I won't have to run wheel spacers or increase the length of the wheel studs! THANKS TIM!
Newly machined spinner cap.
Rotor after it was machined. I know the dust cap looks really bad, but it won't be visible once the wheel and spinner is mounted.
The spinner cap now fits down over the top of the rotor hub, rather than on top.
So what's next you ask? I've already started playing with the Pedal Box, some of the brake line bending, Power Brake Booster and I still have the gas tank waiting to be installed. Oh yeah, I also get to cut on the frame a little! Check back soon for more info!
