Hi Maverick Crew - I am on the tail end of a front suspension / steering upgrade and have been having some issues. Am hoping to get some advice if any of you have run across these issues with your projects. I installed a Total Control Products front coil over conversion suspension kit. I also installed a Unisteer power Rack and Pinion kit. I have had install problems with both kits, and have slowly worked through many of those problems. However, there are some problems that have me scratching my head. Am hoping to gets some help. Problem 1: The Unisteer Rack and Pinion kit and the Lower Control Arm from the TCP kit interfered on the driver side when the suspension cycled through its range of motion. The TCP LCA appears slightly wider than stock and the Rack and Pinion bracket hangs down quite a bit. Had to switch back to the stock LCA to get the car running again. I think Some modification to the Rack and Pinion mounting bracket will be required to use the LCAs. Has anyone run across this particular issue? I am running the stock LCA, but would really love to run the complete kit. Problem 2: I am unable to use a sway bar with this TCP kit. Their tech support has not offered anything that has been promising. I have tried the 1"bar that came with the car and also tried a 7/8" Addco bar that is supposed to be a stock replacement. Both interfere with the strut rods as the suspension is compressed. Shortening or lengthening the sway bar links will not solve the issue as the interference is near the bar bend by the mounting bracket, so it won't move out of the way of the strut rod. Problem 3: The Unisteer kit was very challenging to install as it did not work with the stock exhaust manifolds on my 302. I may have a mystery motor, but ended up switching to Hooker headers anyway. This almost solved the problem, but the u-joints for the steering linkage were rubbing on the headers. The clearance on the drivers side is very very tight and inspired many an "expressive" word during install. Anyway, I "massaged" the header tube that the steering linkage was rubbing against and got it reinstalled. Thought problem was solved, only to find out that when I am actually turning the car and accelerating, the motor must move enough to bang up against the steering linkage again. There is an Allen head bolt on the Ujoint, causing a bind in the steering against the header. If I let up the throttle, the steering frees up again. Do you guys know of a good trick to clearance the headers some more where I don't have to take them off the car for the 20th time? Attached are a couple photos showing the problem areas. The car is running and driving and I can feel the benefits of the upgrades, but would really like to solve these remaining problems and finish it out. Am running the car without the sway bar and considering options on the TCP LCA issue. Am wondering if anyone has had these issues or has any ideas? Thanks in advance! Sam
Your lower control arms look like they are pushed way back towards the rear of the car. What is the current caster spec.? I have adjusted lots of those suspensions that are stock and I can't remember any where the control arm is that far back. I usually say problems with them pulled too far forward and having tires hit the fenders while turning. Mike
You might want to check w/ a member "Nick Dominick" on the forum and FB on my page. https://www.facebook.com/nick.dominick.3/posts/2163857370294812 I know he has the Unisteer R&P and a coil over setup. I'm not sure if he has TCP setup but you can inquire.
Hey Mike - That was good advice. I passed along your suggestion to the alignment shop and we were able to shorten the strut rods and adjust the caster at the upper control arm. Relatively easy fix, but not obvious to me. Thanks! Sam
