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Strut Rod FIX |
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n2ojoe
AMC Addicted Joined: May/04/2016 Location: Tecumseh, MI Status: Online Points: 718 |
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Many people modify the strut rod or fabricate a new one that utilizes a spherical bearing heim joint "rod end" to eliminate the spongy factory rubber bushings. While the heim joints do provide a wide range of pivot, they are often harsh and noisy, and certainly do not appear stock. That is the benefit of the Delrin kit, they appear much more stock, provide very good articulation, and are not nearly as harsh.
Edited by n2ojoe - Nov/13/2022 at 7:32am |
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sweatlock
AMC Addicted Joined: Apr/28/2014 Location: Largo, FL Status: Offline Points: 3285 |
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Okay, thank you for the explanation. The Delrin may be a viable option when/if the supply of rubber replacements for the stock setup eventually run out.
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White70JavelinSST
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Aug/08/2012 Location: Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 4867 |
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I have three sets of "rubber" replacements. ( I don't believe any of them are really rubber) All three were tested with a durometer. All three tested over 90 for hardness. Unfortunately that is much much harder than the original factory rubber bushings. I installed poly bushings at the time of the front end rebuild as rubber ones were difficult to find then. The poly bushings are way too hard and creates a problem for my Javelin. The problem is that the front suspension cannot be allowed to fully droop or compress completely. The poly bushings caused a strut rod to break because of a full compression event. Over 90 test on a durometer is almost at least as hard as poly. Not good. The Open tracker system pivots through the center of the strut rod bracket and does not flex the strut rod. That is the concept of the open tracker system as I was led to understand. If it does in fact flex the strut rod during a deep compression or full droop situation, then we have problems. The whole idea was to provide that centered pivot point as the original rubber bushings did. Poly bushings don't do that. The heim joint system pivoted in front of the strut rod bracket. That does not follow allow the correct suspension travel and alters alignment as it pivots. I was hoping to read in the response from those who have purchased the open tracker strut rod busing kit that in fact the strut rod does pivot in the center of the strut rod bracket.
Any help there? Edited by White70JavelinSST - Nov/25/2022 at 12:38pm |
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70 Javelin SST, second owner, purchased 1972
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304-dude
AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/29/2008 Location: Central Illinoi Status: Offline Points: 9081 |
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The pivot is dead center. The two delrin bushings are held in place, on both sides of the strut rod bracket. The billit thick pivot washers compress and hold the assembly in place. It is very solid, but will allow smooth operation without the bind issues from solid rubber or poly bush, that does not allow a true pivot, and will bind under extremes.
The system is based on my own ideas to keep strut rod pivot within AMC's design. Most all other pivots made to conform to the strut rod's function, moves the pivot point inward to wheel, which effects geometry. All function, but center pivot is a requirement for proper geometry on track and for autocross. |
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71 Javelin SST body
390 69 crank, 70 block & heads NASCAR SB2 rods & pistons 78 Jeep TH400 w/ 2.76 Low 50/50 Ford-AMC Suspension 79 F150 rear & 8.8 axles Ford Racing 3.25 gears & 9" /w Detroit locker |
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White70JavelinSST
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Aug/08/2012 Location: Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 4867 |
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THANK YOU 304-dude, IMMENSELY FOR RESPONDING ! ! ! ! I need to get in contact with John and get a set sent to me. |
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70 Javelin SST, second owner, purchased 1972
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Greyhounds_AMX
AMC Addicted Joined: Nov/14/2009 Location: Kansas City Status: Offline Points: 1268 |
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1968 AMX 390 w/T5
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White70JavelinSST
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Aug/08/2012 Location: Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 4867 |
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Thank you Greyhounds_AMX. That pretty much wraps it up and proves that it functions as it should to maintain the correct geometry. |
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70 Javelin SST, second owner, purchased 1972
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n2ojoe
AMC Addicted Joined: May/04/2016 Location: Tecumseh, MI Status: Online Points: 718 |
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I was hoping to read in the response from those who have purchased the open tracker strut rod busing kit that in fact the strut rod does pivot in the center of the strut rod bracket.
[/QUOTE]
Any help there? This is exactly right, it pivots at the center just as stock was designed. The bushing halves have a taper moulded in to allow the long center spacer sleeve a wide range of pivot.The preload on the adjuster nut can be over tightened to the point of making pivoting very difficult, so don't just run it down tight with an impact gun. Slowly adjusting the bushing to allow pivoting with light drag, then snugging down the jam nut provided in the kit will get it just right.
Edited by n2ojoe - Nov/25/2022 at 5:50pm |
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WesternRed
AMC Addicted Joined: Aug/03/2010 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 5787 |
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One of the modifications I did with my Opentracker setup, remember I used the mustang ones, was to open up the centre to allow a little more articulation, they were slightly limited on the extension side, which is probably never going to be an issue on the street, but for drag racing I wanted as much extension as possible.
Keep in mind with these, that if you reach the limit of articulation, it is a hard stop, not a gradual tightening as it is with rubber or poly bushes, so probably more likely to break the strut rod. I also ended up fabricating bump stops to limit extension so that the shock is not the limiting factor like it is with the factory setup, I am running coil overs and it will top out the front suspension on a hard launch.
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