jackb_ms Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Hello AllI need to replace the A frame on my car.Is there any trick I should be aware of?How long should it take me?Can the be wheeled safely in and out of the garage wihit out an A frame fitted? CheersJack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilla Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Support the car on axle stands under the outer ends of the rear chassis rail (NOT the de Dion tube), remove the nuts, washers and bolts at the front corners and the big nut and bolt through the bush at the back and off it comes (you may find that the handbrake cable is cable tied to it to stop it rattling, if so detach and reattach on reassembly). The de Dion tube may swing backwards by a few mm so when it comes to refitting, you may need to give it a shove forwards to line up the bolt holes again. Refitting is the reverse of removal. Make sure you keep a track of exactly which washers came off where when you remove the front bolts as they are used as spacer shims to to centre the A-frame in the chassis. when you put it back on, the outboard ends of the inner tubes of the front bushes should just touch the packing washers when slack (i.e. there should be no play to move the A-frame sideways before the bolts are tightened) and once lightly tightened, the de Dion tube should be centered within the chassis +-2mm (but the closer ther better). You can measure the gaps between the inner edges of the de dion ears and the chassis rails to check this and move washers around accordingly, but the original arrangement of washers should be a good starting point. Don't fully torque up the bolts until the weight of the car is back on the wheels, the as the bushes need to be able to rotate into their correct neutral positions so they are are not under strain when tightened. I wouldn't try putting the weight on the wheels with the A-frame off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackb_ms Posted July 8, 2015 Author Share Posted July 8, 2015 Thank youDo you know the torque setting for the bolts?Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilla Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Build manual gives 60 lbft / 82 Nm for 'A' Frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Garry7 Posted July 8, 2015 Leadership Team Share Posted July 8, 2015 You need a deep 19mm socket and another to remove / refit the nut and bolt at the apex. Also a couple of new plastic? washers either side of the apex before rebolting into place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted July 8, 2015 Member Share Posted July 8, 2015 Would you like an Assembly Guide?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilla Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 The washers are these: http://caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_product=1438. I think they are optional and only really required on race cars to support the bush under heavy cornering forces. When I had my A Frame refurbished I did fit them though as they were fitted previously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackb_ms Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 Well I did the job last night and found out the 21 and 7 have different A frameJack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorset7 Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Did you make sure the A-Frame is the right way up - there is a right and wrong way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackb_ms Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 HiThe A frame I have is smaller thane the originale onehttps://www.dropbox.com/sh/xs350vbwe4b55kw/AABb1PS9nwLNCPwwAKAcnJ4ta?dl=0Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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