Topic: Strut Rod Bushing & Washers

[CW4macret]

I was looking at the thread below on strut washer because I got a comment on my judge sheet that mine were facing backwards.  I just thought it was a mistake because I always have installed the washers so that the cone covered as much rubber as possible ( cone to the inside ).  Today I was over by a 66 T code I have waiting  restoration and thought I would look at the washer and nut on it’s struts. Well I will be darn, the washer on it have the cone facing away from the rubber. So is this picture correct installation?

[CharlesTurner]

The washers should cup the rubber.

[Bob Gaines]

The washers should cup the rubber.

+1. I think aftermarket kits for some reason will instruct to mount the washers the odd counter intuitive backward way. That might be one reason many get reversed.

[J_Speegle]

+2 Agree the aftermarket instructions and pictures of cars on the internet with them  have lead many to make the incorrect choice

Reposting some 66 San Jose examples  - sorry the first post were of 65 Dearborn - was focused on that period while looking for pictures for another post today

[dsielke]

Both of my San Jose cars have never had them removed as far as I know and they face out. Dec. 1, 65.on T-code, one A-code. I suspect it was at the whim of the person installing and which plant.

[J_Speegle]

Both of my San Jose cars have never had them removed as far as I know and they face out. Dec. 1, 65.on T-code, one A-code. I suspect it was at the whim of the person installing and which plant.

Have never seen original San Jose washers installed like that and not likely that all of the inspectors would have missed that at one of the stations.  After looking at 10's of thousands of examples I would believe they have been removed and installed that way. Does the washers have the lip around the edge like originals? Pictures shows a reflection on one that makes it appear that it was zinc but maybe its just the flash. Maybe they were changed out when they swapped out some of your other front suspension pieces shown in your picture


Easy enough to post a hand full of examples from the same time period and plant as your car but that would take up off of thread slightly.  Guessing your car is in the 6R143xxx range?

[Bob Gaines]

Both of my San Jose cars have never had them removed as far as I know and they face out. Dec. 1, 65.on T-code, one A-code. I suspect it was at the whim of the person installing and which plant.

If that is the case how can you explain how many of us that work on SJ cars typically see them cupped in? It seems more logical that the contour of the washer would follow the contour of the rubber bushing rather then the exact opposite. The assembly line manual for 6cyl ,V8 drum and V8 Disc brake illustrations are illustrated to indicate cupped in installation.  I only checked the 65 shop manual but the illustration in suspension section 3-2 under " front suspension-typical"is cupped in also .I suspect the other years manuals  follow suite.   It would seem given the obvious factory engineering direction plus the many first hand observations that many of us have seems to indicate that it would be more of a mistake type anomaly rather then a common practice whim of the person installing If they are installed in reverse .

[dsielke]

Easy enough to post a hand full of examples from the same time period and plant as your car but that would take up off of thread slightly.  Guessing your car is in the 6R143xxx range?

They are both 6R0_1384XX. I just went into the garage. The convertible does not appear to have been changed and as far as I can tell the washers and nuts are correct based on previous threads. It does appear the bushings on my GT have been replaced with poly bushing some time ago. I have only owned them both for 20+years so anything is possible in the 20+ years before that I guess. 

[jwc66k]

+2 Agree the aftermarket instructions and pictures of cars on the internet with them  have lead many to make the incorrect choice


Some pictures of unrestored 65 Dearborn cars to illustrate

The strut rod washers don't look phosphate and oil to me.
Jim

[J_Speegle]

The strut rod washers don't look phosphate and oil to me.
Jim

Sorry should have posted 66 San Jose examples. Changed them out for 66 San Jose examples 

[edwardgt350]

66 san jose washers phos and oil or zinc plated?

[CharlesTurner]

66 san jose washers phos and oil or zinc plated?

Phosphate/oil

[J_Speegle]

Phosphate/oil

+1 

[dsielke]

I assume these washers are aftermarket and the nuts original?

[Bob Gaines]

I assume these washers are aftermarket and the nuts original?

Yes those after market washers and the instructions stamped into them are a example of why some are installed differently then assemblyline.