[T3] Invasion and Post Invasion Repairs

[Keith Park]

This is interesting, I wouldnt have thought you could have welded spring 
steel sucessfully, but if this works it will save alot of the larger upper 
sway bars, I have several bad ones that have had the problem over the years.

Keith


#3 Loose Front Sway Bar

Before the invasion, I had noticed that our steering seemed loose. When I 
inspected the play in the front axle, it was clear that the sway bar was a
bit 
loose. I removed it and put a larger dimple in the left end, but there
wasn't 
anything I could do to the right end in the short time I had. Since the
problem 
is usually in the left end, I put it back together and hoped it would be
good.

It wasn't. I could hear it creaking occasionally on the trip to the
Invasion.

Once I got home, I pulled the sway bar again and looked at it. I redressed 
the deeper dimple with a correct 90 deg countersink, but there was clearly a

problem on the right side that I hadn't fixed.

On the right side, the set screw had worn a shallow hole in the side of the 
sway bar, and, on the opposite side, it was clear that the flat was only
hitting 
in the middle, not the edges where it would do the most good.

I took the bar to a welder and had him weld up the shallow hole and add 2 
beads along the 2 edges of the flat on the other side. At home, I carefully 
filed the beads down until they could barely fit in the trailing arm, while
still 
standing above the center of the flat.

It's been good ever since.