More than disappointing on the package not being there, kind of getting on my irritation side and I don't normally have one of those.
A couple of more days and we need to just make another set.
No reflection on you Gian, and I'm sure you are as flustered as the rest of us.
OK, the big deal is the test, how do you think it turned out?

 

Yes, I am also irritated on the package not yet being delivered. With regards to the test, I aced it. The professor put up the scores that same night.

I’m heading to the post office today to inquire about the package. Even if I don’t get it today, I will still be tearing down the suspension so that once it arrives its ready to install.

 

Great news on the test for the tear down, hope it's not too hot.

 

Tell the management at the post office that you will be scheduling them for root canals with no painkillers if they do not produce your package immediately....

 

And no anesthesia. Oh that’s evil. Hahaha

 

Just got back from the Post Office and they said they are delayed because they are understaffed because of the Trump administration budget cuts and that I should go to their website and file a claim.

The guy said that he could not retrieve the package because it “it is out for delivery”. He said it might be delivered today. So basically they shifted the blame at the orange cheeto.

From what I could see, the entire town seems to be harassing the mail-people because of delayed deliveries.

 

Oo lame. Happened to me also. Never found the package. “Out for Delivery” still there. I can just see the delivery truck driving around forever totally lost.

 

Yeah, it totally sucks. My neighbor said that a package arrived after 8 days of being out for delivery. I am sure it will arrive, I just wish it did so today so that I can post feedback on Wayne’s mounts to this thread.

 

Gian, thank you for checking out as much as you can, what a bunch of bull.
They are robbing a large group the knowledge needed to continue. I know it's good, but that has nothing to do with reality.
I want to order a large amount of bushings and pad material, but just a little input from your around the block would help.
That being said, you be careful and don't rush this, if we can get the mail in by today, great, we have a few days before I will just order it anyway.
Dot all the I's and cross all the t"s, torque each bolt and put a chalk mark on them after you get the load on the suspension. A bit of a pain, I just jack it up at the bottom ball joint until the car is slightly off the jack stand on the side I'm doing. We are talking 1/2 inch or less, be careful.

 

I had an order out for delivery from Dec 3rd till dec 23rd...I tried to trace it...usps called and said it was lost and I should file a claim, I was busy...didn't file...and it showed up. The previous administration ripped apart many things that were barely working. I'm hoping for happier days ahead..
wj

 

Yep, the incompetent Postmaster General (Louis DeJoy) needs to be fired and replaced by someone who can do the job. Until that happens, expect the post office to remain a laughingstock....

 

Might be a good idea to keep this thread on topic.
The efficiency or not of the US postal service and members opinions as to who or what is responsible is hardly a topic l would expect to find on a jaguar car forum.

 

While the inefficiencies of the USPS are applicable in this thread, I do agree with Baxtor - stick to topic - disdain for one administration or the other or who is responsible for the woes of the USPS can go in the Off Topic section

 

I went ahead and started the project despite not having received the package yet. I replaced both of the Tie-Rod ends. The driver side tie-rod end had a split boot. I tried separating the upper control arm ball-joint and found it imposible with the fork and hammer. Forget about using the tuning fork to separate the ball joint. (When using it, I accidentally missed with the hammer and dented my passenger brake rotor. It’s not much, but it will require resurfacing.) Instead, use the ball-joint separator that looks like a couple of jaws with a screw. It’s much easier with that. Once I had them out, I removed the fulcrum bolts and the upper control arm was then free.

My upper ball-joints were goners. They had lots of movement with no resistance at all. My lowers I replaced last year and am not worried about them.

I then used a C-clamp press to R & R the ball-joints. Next I drilled and tapped the control arm bushes and installed some Zerk fittings for a grease gun. I was now about to modify the powerflex bushes by adding grease channels to them, but it turns out my dremmel is damaged and won’t turn on. I am now off to the store to buy a new one.

 

Impressive and watch out, you may have to trade career's.
I sure hope tomorrow will finish up your job.
OH, we pick the right guy to do this, thanks again Gain.

 

You're welcome and thank you for picking me and giving me the opportunity to help in the development of these shock mounts.

Hahaha, you wouldn't be the first person to suggest that. I have had friends tell me "if the whole dentistry thing doesn't work out, you could make a living as a mechanic". TBH, I have learned to wrench out of necessity. It's fun, but I would rather be driving the car instead.

Re: the suspension. I did manage to buy a Dremmel at The Home Depot and used it to create grease channels in the powerflex bushes.


First design: grease channels


Then I tested them out and found, that while the bush was being greased, the inner bore was only lightly greased.


I drilled some holes and tried again. I was happy with the results.


Final product: New ball joints, and new zerk fittings. The bushes were greased using Hotchkis Super Silicon grease. That stuff is extremely tacky, it took me 30 minutes to get it off of my hands.

Tomorrow I will remove the shock absorber, shock mount, and spring. Should take me about 15 minutes, especially considering I already have the upper control arm out. If the package arrives, then great, I will be having it all installed by then, if not, then I will regrease the anti-roll bar bushes, which are squeaking a lot. I'm still on the fence on if I want to go through the trouble of removing the lower control arm bushes and also installing a Zerk fitting or leave it as is for now. The lower bushes don't appear to be squeaking, and the lower ball joints are quite new.

 

Poly bushes are usually fitted to be static in the control arms and rotate only on the crush tube, hence the cross hatch grease trap in the bore.
l can't off the top of my head see why your greasing inside and out would lead to any problem but it is unusual.

 

Well, I'm thinking greasing the outside is just a consequence of using the zerk fitting, but what I want to do is have the inner bore be greased, which is why I created the channels and drilled the holes to allow grease to reach the inner bore. I might modify them a bit more tomorrow.

Also, I just learned that adding some Teflon tape to the anti-roll bar and the control arm bush sleeve can help eliminate squeaking.

 

You were busy yesterday. We are going to have a couple of things going on and I'm very interested in how much better we got the whole system, if any..
Keeping that sleeve greased could prevent the freeze up of the cross bolt, that has been a problem for some and in the salty air in your area, might just be a major help in future maintenance.
Moving forward for sure, Thanks Gain.

 

Since I had a day off from school today, I got a few things done.

Initial wheel arch to wheel center measurements: 14 ½ inches on both driver and passenger side.

I first modified the upper control arm bushes even more. I widened the holes I made in the channels to allow grease to flow into the sleeve with more ease. I also created some channels along the outer rim of the bushes to allow excess grease to flow out when greasing the bushes. I then went ahead and greased the anti-roll bar bushes. The squeak is now gone.

Next, I removed the strut assemblies from the car, which was easy without the upper control arm. I remembered today how much I hate using spring compressors. I managed to get one of the shock mounts free from the assembly, but the second one is giving me some trouble. The top shock bolt inner hex that accepts the Allen key is slightly stripped. I wager a slightly larger Allen key would do the trick. I will have to buy one tomorrow and hope that solves the problem.

Re: The mail. Today the mailman delivered the thin and thick caster alignment shims I had ordered for this project that I had ignorantly thrown out the first time I installed the polybushes. However, the mounts were not in his truck today. Hopefully, they’re here tomorrow.


The final design of modified bushes.


Strut assemblies are out of the car.


Passenger side Welsh mount was already starting to break apart. According to my records, these mounts were installed on May 4, 2020 at 74,800 miles. Currently mileage is 79,989 miles.


Shock nut is not centered and you can see signs of the bushes being shaved by the mount itself.




As you can see, the Welsh mounts were beginning to fail after 1 year, and 5,189 miles. Truly abysmal longevity from them, and this is my third set of them.