1969 front suspension rebuild

[Joe T.]

It's a long sad story, but the short version is: I'm stupid" let it go at that. In any event, can some one provide pictures or detailed exploded diagrams on the front A-arm assembly including steering knuckle, back of spindle; caliper and bracket and rotor? Or can you point me to a Restorer issue with this information? I looked at Dr. Rebuild, but the diagram on his website is not clear enough for my purpose. I don't see this info in the GM Service or Overhaul manuals or in the AIM. Thanks and regards...joe

[Don H.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

Joe
just as a start there are several good images of 67 steering parts in this thread. Should be very similar to your 69.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?105393-67-steering-knuckle-Re-creating-orange-dipped-appearance

also, please don't feel like the lone ranger re. your "what was I thinking?" sad tale. No matter what you would describe, I can top it, and I bet others here could too....

[Joe T.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

Joe
just as a start there are several good images of 67 steering parts in this thread. Should be very similar to your 69.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?105393-67-steering-knuckle-Re-creating-orange-dipped-appearance

also, please don't feel like the lone ranger re. your "what was I thinking?" sad tale. No matter what you would describe, I can top it, and I bet others here could too....

Hi Don and Thanks , for both the pictures and the kind sentiment...I do appreciate both... I wonder how old I have to be to be "old enough to know better"? I limited my Forum Searches to 1969 items otherwise I probably should have seen this one. Thanks also to the poster(s) providing the pictures. they are a great start for me. Any other that can be found would also be appreciated regards...joe

[Don H.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

Joe- I think you are never too old to make yet another royal screw up. I have done a head slapping fubar and afterwards said to myself "I knew better than to do that back in the 60s when I first started playing cars!" I find that after all this time I have forgotten many of my important lessons learned from the past...

[Alan S.]

[Joe T.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

Hi Alan and thanks.
I kind of expected that from the AIM, since sub assemblies are not addressed (at least not very well) there and I understood that when I looked. I expected better from the Service or Overhaul manuals, but they let me down. The pictures that Don found for me are a great start, but some details with the caliper removed or an exploded drawing would still be helpful. You would think that I would stop doing dumb things like dissembling the second piece before I finished assembling the first side ..but NOOO ...
Thanks again and regards...joe

[Steven B.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

It's a long sad story, but the short version is: I'm stupid" let it go at that. In any event, can some one provide pictures or detailed exploded diagrams on the front A-arm assembly including steering knuckle, back of spindle; caliper and bracket and rotor? Or can you point me to a Restorer issue with this information? I looked at Dr. Rebuild, but the diagram on his website is not clear enough for my purpose. I don't see this info in the GM Service or Overhaul manuals or in the AIM. Thanks and regards...joe

Joe, did you try the Chassis Service Manuals available through the NCRS Store? Steve

[Joe T.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

Whoops! Sorry STEVE!! I have the GM Service and overhaul manuals(original publications) from 1960-1970. Are the manuals in NCRS store different?

[Steven B.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

Whoops! Sorry STEVE!! I have the GM Service and overhaul manuals(original publications) from 1960-1970. Are the manuals in NCRS store different?

Joe, I "assume" they are the same but don't know. You know what happens when we assume---. I have some original manuals but have not compared them to the ones available from the store. Steve

[Alan S.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

Hi Joe,
Here's the best I can find.
Google the 'Willcox Corvette' site
Click on 'Pictures'
Enter Keyword: Front Suspension
Click on 'Suspension Front Stock' under the 'S' heading
Click on the second item, (the drawing), and then click 'enlarge'.
It took me longer to type it than it will take you to get there because I don't know how to post a link.
Hope this is what you're looking for.
Regards,
Alan

There's a fastener torque chart too.

I think I figured out the link…. hope it works for you!

http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_info.php?cPath=1930&products_id=26225

[Paul D.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

Link works great, Alan. Picture appears to be straight out of a GM parts catalog. Chip.

[Joe T.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

Thanks Guys. This all helps! I ordered some manuals from the NCRS store as well. This doesn't seem all that complicated, but when I e-assembled the first side, I ran into interference between the rotor and dust shield(backing plate) and I am trying to figure out what I did wrong! We'll see what comes of this latest adventure...Thanks again to all and regards...joe

[Jeff P.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

Joe,

Might have the left and right backing plates on the wrong sides of the car (inside out , left and right) shoot us a picture of the interference!!

[Joe T.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

Joe,

Might have the left and right backing plates on the wrong sides of the car (inside out , left and right) shoot us a picture of the interference!!

Hi Jeff...I'll take some pics and add them here. I didn't mix the backing plates because, in a rare moment of intelligence for me, I put one side back together before i took the second part apart. I noticed (and it will be shown in the pics) that the backing plate is not perpendicular to the spindle and I cannot figure out why that would be nor what I could have done to cause that, hence my request for pictures. I think the misalignment of the backing plate is the cause of the interference with the rotor. I have marked up the oter to see if I can identify the point of interference, but I haven't re-assembled the unit to test that yet.

Thanks to ALL for your interest and assistance. Please stand by? Regards,,,Joe

[Paul O.]

Re: 1969 front suspension rebuild

Joe

Try Tom Keens site they may have a better break down for you.

http://keenparts.com/pages/catalog2.php?cat=440&year=ALL