Triumph Repair: 1979 Spitfire 1500 Zenith Stromberg gas leak, zenith stromberg, shock absorber


Question
Your questions: Is it gas? Yes.  Does it leak only after the engine is cut off? Yes.  But while watching it during the engine running and after cut off, I noticed that the source of the leak seemed to be the gasket area between the automatic choke and the carb, especially the short screw that hold them together.  A quarter turn of the screw and the leak stopped.  I made sure it was not an adjusting screw first.  But now a follow on question.  The gas leak deteriorated the rear bushing of the front suspension A arm.  I bought a replacement but if I remove the bolt, will the coil spring or something else move the A arm so that I will not be able to reassemble it to the fulcrum bracket without a special tool?

Answer
Steven,

You'll have to remove the lower A-arm to replace the bushing.  The front spring travel (extension) is limited by the front shock absorber so disassembling the front is fairly easy.

You'll find it easiest to put the front of the car up on stands and remove the road wheel.  Remove the bolts holding the lower a-arms to the frame brackets.  You should be able to pry the a-arm (gently) from the brackets using either a large screwdriver or a pry bar.

To actually replace the bushing I've found the easiest method is to pick a ratchet socket (1/2" drive around 13/16") that is big enough for the bushing to fit in with a loose fit.  Get a 5/16" bolt that's about 4 or 5" long and a stack of washers to fit the bolt.  All-thread would be best, but a normal style bolt will work.  

If the rubber bushing is completely trashed then it may just pull easily from the a-arm.  Otherwise you can use the "install" tool to remove the bushing.

To install a bushing place the new bushing on one side of the a-arm opening, the socket open end facing the a-arm) and the bolt all the way through both.  A bit of armor-all on the bushing will help the install process.  Tighten on the bolt to draw the bushing into the a-arm.  

If you used all-thread you don't need to keep adding washers to take up the slack as you install the bushing.  Otherwise when you hit the end of the thread you'll need to remove the nut, add washers (or spacers) and then keep tightening.

If this isn't clear I'll try to get some graphics or pictures uploaded.  I'm out of the country right now so it
take a week or two.

If you're going to change one bushing then you probably should do both both at the same time.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,

Jim