T/C rod servicing

[TomoHawk]

Haynes book calls it a "radius rod," and doesn't discuss how to service it. Do you just unbolt it and replace the bushings, etc? I get front wheel bounce at ~32-37mph, which feels dangerous, and should be corrected. Can you do the same with the lower control arm bushings? I should do those while I'm in there.

[spudz]

The T/C ( radius) rod just unblots and you replace

the rubber bushings. If you want the suspension

a bit tighter go with the urethane. The control

arm bushings take a bit more work to replace them.

[2ManyZs]

Wheel bounce? Steering wheel or the tire itself? Could be more than just bushings. Could be rack bushings, tie rod ends, strut cartridge bad, ball joints, tire out of balance, tire out of round, a whole myriad of things to check.

[TomoHawk]

I think the wheel is bouncing. It's got a new tire (balanced) on there. 4 ZX rims are on the car. Also has new cartridges on the fronts, and the whole thing was (aligned)serviced last week, with no reports of loose anything, but the normal amount of play on the steering rack.

The other 3 wheels are real nice and smooth.

[2ManyZs]

Have you tried the wheel and tire on another position? Try swapping it side to side on the front, or better yet, if the tires are all the same size, swap it to the back.

If it stops the shake in the front, then it is in the wheel or possibly the tire. If the shake or bounce continues with another tire and wheel there, then it's down to a suspension problem.

Even new tires have been known to be slightly out of round at times. Or else the wheel may be bent slightly.

Try it and see what happens.

[TomoHawk]

The front wheels were switched side-to-side to fix a problem with a pull to the right. Steering alignment couldn't fix the pull. I think the bounce was more pronounced after the switch. then I swapped in the new spare wheelwith no difference. I'm going to order a T/C rod bush kit from VB and lower control arm bushes. Anything else I should get? Come spring, the whole rear suspension gets overhaulled.

Would worn sway bar bushings affect the bounce? I don't get any bounce/less bounce while on a slight turn. I looked at them a month ago, and I think they were the least bit loose, but didn't think about doing anything with them.

I want to get the front stable so I can drive it occasionally, or to the barn for storage in Nov.

[2ManyZs]

If you are getting the bushings, you might be ahead of the game to go ahead and get a set of steering rack bushings while you are at it, if you haven't already. If you want, it might not be a bad idea to get the urethane bushings for the sway bar too. If you are going to do some, you may as well do them all while you have it apart.

Hmm, perplexing problem. I guess the best thing to do is to try one thing at a time. Do the bushings, then we'll go from there with all the other alternatives. You might even find the problem while you are changing the bushings.:cheeky:

[TomoHawk]

By the way, My 280z is getting power steering too.