Just read that the front "bottom wishbones" on a pv where different length's.
Does anyone know if this is correct, when I had mine off I marked them but someone in SWEDEN had fitted disc's so now my heads in a 'tizz' thinking WHAT IF !!
because the steering lock is POO.

I agree with Gary, the attachment points for the sway bar dictate which side the wishbone fits. They must point forward.

Mind you, it's been just about 45 years since I last monkeyed with a 544... but I seem to recall something about the left side wishbone being slightly longer than the right. But even is that is the case, if the wishbone assemblies were swapped left for right, steering lock would be the least of your worries IMO. How, for instance, would you hook up the stabilizer (anti-roll) bar links? Wouldn't those attachment points end up on the aft side of the wishbones?
--

Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
BlueBrick Racing Website
YouTube Racing Videos

Note comments here re the shock absorber position. That may be the problem.

http://www.bearmanmotorsports.com/page4.html

Hi Derek, yes I found that out very early on because when I bought the car the discs where fitted,so I did not know if they where standard or not. The dampers where at the front and always have been but the lock is still poo I really only notice it when I pull the caravan. Quite some time ago Jack Cluer VOC UK said in the driver that offsett bottom pins could be found, "from where I do not know" they moved the bottom of the damper slightly inboard.I think I read this in the DRIVER. I tried to price some from rob at AMAZON but at £300 a pair NO WAY.
Peter

They are usually made by V cutting the originals, bending a little and then rewelding. Done properly they should be fine for road and light comps. I'd guess that the factory had proper forged ones made for their cars. The Safari ones used a pair of shocks each side. Replying here to your other post, the term "unequal length suspension" denotes that the arc of the top and bottom arms are "unequal" Top arm is shorter than the bottom. That allows a certain amount of negative camber to be introduced as the wheel rises which makes for safer handling.

Derek uk,Now that has answered my question to a "TEE".
The bracket for the dampers was made as a special that was why it was so dear,or so I am told.
MANY THANKS to all who SUBSCRIBED
S-AN-Sven

There are obviously different part numbers for this due to orientation (as I just checked), but I didn't see anything to indicate unequal length.

Maybe the steering rods and/or ball joint coupler thingamajigs aren't installed properly? With my 240, the inner/outer tie rods had to an equal distance from the steering rack (ie: number of threaded turns after installing them) or the steering lock could get screwed up. Or the Pitman arm could be off, too. I have the service manual for the "front axle" if you need it.

Hi Folks, this BELOW is the reason that i asked the question about Bottom Wishbones (A Frames)this is from a 1964 TEST Review.When I stripped mine I marked them just to make sure, but they both looked the same in length to me.I may be wrong but if one was longer than the other then the steering would be governed by the short one for obvious reasons.


Only detail changes, and exceedingly minor ones at that,
have been made in the 544's chassis since its introduction.
The front wheels are carried on unequal-length A-arms, and
a very light and precise cam-and-roller steering is used. The
rear axle, which has hypoid-type gears, is located by trailing
links and a transverse track rod. Coil springs and telescopic
dampers are used all around.

Hi,
I can't help with your steering problem, but when they say "unequal A-arms" they usually mean the top A-arm is smaller than the bottom one, not that the arms of one of side of one of the A's is different to the other.
Regards
JohnH
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JohnH, Sydney, Australia

Thanks John , Now it makes sense, don't know why I did not think of it. He! He!
When I read it in the review I could not think of a reason as to why they mentioned something like that.Suppose I was trying to look for the complicated version.
Thanks again.
S-an-Sven