grantf

Done. My Z is going in for a front end alignment tomorrow. The second side was easer of course. One thing that I learned is that it is way easer to loosen the tie rod lock nut before separating the tie rod from the steering knuckle.

Well I got most of the left side apart today. I am stuck now. Having a bitch of a time getting the tie rod end and lock nut loose. It looks like a reverse thread. I will take a torch to it tomorrow. on top of that the two bolts to the steering knuckle got buggered. So now new bolts search and a tap to chase the threads. I have no idea how they got buggered by just removing them. Arrg!

I don't understand youre question at all. You have a 77? first gen z is a 240. Why would you put a 240 engine in youre 280?

I agree.

Cool let me know what you find. I may fab one up but the original would be more desirable. If you do have the fork let me know what I could pay you or trade. I have some odds and ends lying around for 77/78.

wow! :sick:

I have heard painting calipers and drums hinder heat dissapation.

I went with moog both for the tie rod ends and the ball joints. $129.89 for both sides Really not a bad price considering safety. I read through some older post regarding ball joints from msa, It seems that the moog parts are highly recomended, the parts shipped this morning. Any advise on removing the old parts? I am looking at using a pickle fork if needed as I will not be reusing the old parts.

Good advice. As you may have noticed I found out about the tie rods by looking things over while working on the brakes. Most of the front bushings look "ok" meaning they look a little old with little cracks, they will be delt with later. the rest of the steering rack visually looks good, the boots are not torn. I prefer do do most of the work myself for fun, learning and to save money, but I of course I do not have the proper equipment to do an alignment. Frankly I just don't trust most shops to work on my car, I feel they dont really understand more than RR meaning remove and replace, even more so with the older datsuns. So in a nutshell I know there is more work to do. Edit: tie rods and ball joints are ordered, both sides (moog brand from rock auto).

Oh, to bad my spare 77 tank wont fit.

Sorry, I was trying to be a little sarcastic also, I tend to do that at times. Again there is no oil leak, What you are seeing is water. It was really coming down while I was working on the car. I tend to place the tire after removal under the car as an added safety, just a habit I have especially with the car jacked up on a muddy drive way. I did as you may have read on my other thread regarding rear brakes have a leaking cylinder (now replaced). I am pretty experianced working on cars but of course I don't know everything and I guess when it comes to suspention I would have to say that I am a newby. All tires are the same size so I could check it by measuring but then again there is a firestone about 200ft down the road from me that can align the car for about $90.00 Parts are on order, time to read up in the FSM a little.

what year is youre car?

Thanks everyone. It's funny I get no hits for tie rod in the search. It looks like they don't cost much. Most likely I will go with the moogs from rock auto. It looks like they come with a castle nut. And yes it has been raining a lot the last few days (I was working on my car in the rain). Will I need a front end alignment after replacement? my car tracks fine right now.

I am sure you know that the parts in question are for steering which happens to be located at the front part of the car. Brake cylinders are located at the rear of the car. I have new brake calipers and they do not leak.

got new shoes, cylinders, springs and pins, cleaned all surfaces greased bosses and other contact points, drum checked out and abraded. Just need the adjuster.

So I need new tie rod ends or can I replace the boot and grease? I do not want to die. Snarky is ok if you are talking to someone "modding" there interior or putting a stupid wing on the hatch. Anyhow you're help is valued and there is no way I would have torqued anything down to what you said. It's been a long day, started work at 7 am then got home, put new shims on the front brakes discovered a mess with the rear brakes, discovered new suprises with the front suspention. All of this on top of needing to visit My Mom 60 miles away, who has weeks to live, the big C.

It's my car. :paranoid: And I drive it daily Ball joints? here is a pic suspention and steering are not my forte, yet. so what do I need to get to rectify this. Cpt Obvious, Are you sure? seems like something is missing here.

Yes, I browsed there website, no luck. But I have not called them yet. This may sound a little wishfull but all I need is the fork end of the adjuster, what if I found the correct sized steel tubing mashed the end down and reshaped the fork end. just grasping. edit: or welded the fork end onto the correct size tubing.

Yippy!!!! now I can find the time, drive up to Arlington and try to get another brake drum off!!! :tapemouth Sorry just venting........... Thanks for the tip. It just kills me when some parts are so hard to get. It looks like Z car source has them used for $$$ I have never delt with them before.

I discovered this today:

Started work on my rear brakes today. The right side was completely soaked with brake fluid, this explains the fluid loss from the MC. It looks like what happened was the brake adjuster came free from the rear pad or was not installed properly in the past, this explains why my parking brake never worked right. So the adjuster is basically toast from rubbing against the wheel hub and part of it cut into the cylinder seal I need a new one. Actually just the fork end the rest of the adjuster is in good shape. Anyone know where I can find one? not even courtesy parts have it. :disappoin

Well then measure the fuel pressure.

The bump is actually off center. You will see there is only one way it can go in so that the bump is positioned over the center of the diff.

I see the hatch seal for sale but not the glass seal.

Thanks, I do remember you posting those in the past. Pictures 5 6 and 7 are what I was looking for. Youre car is a twin of mine what vin?