steering parts

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   Hey guys,
I have a 70 Rebel (or 3), anyways, one is a daily driver and the other my project. 
My question is relating to the steering - idler arm, pitman arm and center link.

Are these items the same as another more common Australian car(60s Holden perhaps) or are they the same as the USA counterparts.

I am a bit concerned about the availability of these parts in the future - so much so that I am seriously considering a commodore steering rack for my project car.
The project will be a daily driver as well, but I would like to keep it factory stock.

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ryder6330 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/30/2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 266	Post Options Post Reply Quote ryder6330 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: steering parts Posted: Oct/17/2011 at 4:23am
	Hey guys, I have a 70 Rebel (or 3), anyways, one is a daily driver and the other my project. My question is relating to the steering - idler arm, pitman arm and center link. Are these items the same as another more common Australian car(60s Holden perhaps) or are they the same as the USA counterparts. I am a bit concerned about the availability of these parts in the future - so much so that I am seriously considering a commodore steering rack for my project car. The project will be a daily driver as well, but I would like to keep it factory stock.

WesternRed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Aug/03/2010 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 854	Post Options Post Reply Quote WesternRed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/17/2011 at 8:49am
	I think you will find that all of that actual steering stuff is Australia specific. I brought a USA spec idler arm for my 69 Javelin and it didn't fit.

74gremx Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Jan/18/2009 Location: Adelaide, Aust Status: Offline Points: 297	Post Options Post Reply Quote 74gremx Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/17/2011 at 4:49pm
	The Rebel steering parts are different, as Westernred says, and won't match what the Moog or other aftermarket parts books say. Changes were made in the US but we kept the same early stuff, which includes tie rod ends, adjusting sleeves, idler arms and pitman arms. The difference is in the size of the taper on the swivel joints. As for anything being the same as an Australian car, the answer's no. Why not just get new stuff an be done with it ? The cars 40 years old now, and will last another 40 with new stuff. If you want rack and pinion, google Control Freak Suspensions Dave
	1970 Javelin 360/727 1974 Levis Gremlin X 304/904 1964 American Convertible 1996 Toyota Hilux 1994 Nissan Stagea 2012 Cruze Equipe hatch "Don't mistake activity for achievement".

WesternRed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Aug/03/2010 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 854	Post Options Post Reply Quote WesternRed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/17/2011 at 7:28pm
	From what I could figure out, they must have retained the earlier RHD cetre link with the large taper and then made the later idler arm with a large rather than small US spec taper to fit into it. I wonder how much of this stuff is left in the old Mascot Motors inventory?

74gremx Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Jan/18/2009 Location: Adelaide, Aust Status: Offline Points: 297	Post Options Post Reply Quote 74gremx Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/17/2011 at 10:15pm
	Yes, the larger taper is from the Classic body style. The US changed but we didn't. Perhaps the larger parts are more Heavy Duty and someone decided these were better for Australian conditions. Mascots have sold all their parts. See another thread on this forum for who has the parts now. Dave
	1970 Javelin 360/727 1974 Levis Gremlin X 304/904 1964 American Convertible 1996 Toyota Hilux 1994 Nissan Stagea 2012 Cruze Equipe hatch "Don't mistake activity for achievement".

poormansMACHINE Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Charter Member Joined: Jun/28/2007 Location: Shoemaker-Levy9 Status: Offline Points: 12357	Post Options Post Reply Quote poormansMACHINE Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/17/2011 at 10:21pm
	The large taper was used up to 69 (at least in the big bodied LHD cars). I converted my Ambassador over to the 70~up parts since they were cheaper and easier to access.

bbgjc Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Nov/24/2009 Location: No.VA Status: Offline Points: 806	Post Options Post Reply Quote bbgjc Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/27/2011 at 6:13am
	The Aussie cars used the larger taper items for the simple reason of economy. The majority of the vehicles were the large body sedans, so the smaller bodied Javelins and AMX's also were fitted with the same parts to keep cost down and have one easy to service set up available. Plus, let's be honest, the roads in AU and NZ in the 70's were the best, so they probably figured bigger is better. Also, from my limited knowledge, they did use the smaller taper suspension items, but for the lighter cars. Jim at Mascot Motors classified them as V-8(large taper) and 6 cylinder(smaller taper) for the easy of identification. The type used wasn't dependent on the engine used , but the model of the car. At least that's my understanding.

WesternRed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Aug/03/2010 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 854	Post Options Post Reply Quote WesternRed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/27/2011 at 8:37pm
	Here is a good comparative shot between the Aussie 69 Javelin idler arm (left) and the US equivalent (right), it clearly shows the difference in taper size. The aussie one looks very similar to the 63-69 Classic/Rebel one from APD below, I'm not sure if there are other dimensional differences: Edited by WesternRed - Oct/27/2011 at 8:39pm

74gremx Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Jan/18/2009 Location: Adelaide, Aust Status: Offline Points: 297	Post Options Post Reply Quote 74gremx Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/28/2011 at 12:17am
	There is another diffreence I've found on the idler arms; the depth at which the bush is pressed in. Easy fix with a press if it differs. Dave
	1970 Javelin 360/727 1974 Levis Gremlin X 304/904 1964 American Convertible 1996 Toyota Hilux 1994 Nissan Stagea 2012 Cruze Equipe hatch "Don't mistake activity for achievement".

ryder6330 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Nov/30/2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 266	Post Options Post Reply Quote ryder6330 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/28/2011 at 6:06am
	I've checked freakride. There stuff seems really good, and its great to see such cool stuff for the amc world. The problem I have is I dont know how well there RHD set up will work. Its alot of money if the steering geometry isn't spot on. Assuming I CAN buy all new stock steering gear, will I be able to get it in say 30 years. Based on my driving habits steering gear needs replacement every 5-10 years. This is a Daily driver in the true sense. Camping trips, dunking it in the lake to launch the boat, and of course the everyday grind I have discovered that Ford XF Falcon tie rods have exactly the right lenth/taper etc, I just need to find a replacement for pitman and idler arm.