How To: C15a Wire-3 restoration

[Bob Carriere]

... you have the early ones that can be taken apart. I have only seen one set and mine are slightly different. I did rebuild mine.... salvage parts from a spare axle and make yourself thick leather washers to keep the grease in. If you can't find a spring will send you one.

The most late popular ball joints are sealed units........ make sure your tie rod is not bent....... I had one straight one from 4 axles.......

Do not sand blast the moving parts where they rub steel on steel. I used very thick grease intended for open gears in mine to negate any wear.

Enjoy the mess.

Do you have a cotter pin on the bottom..... can I see the rest of the body of the tie rod???



PSSSSS I bobbed somewhere.......

[Bob Carriere]

My axle from the ca 11 had the early built R-Zeppa axle U-Joint maybe that's why.

I have a real ball inside..... very worn they were cleaned and reassembled with very thick agricultural grease meant for open gears.

Make sure your tie rod is straight..... I found one out of the four I had were bent.

DO NOT sandblast the rubbing/bearing surface of the central parts.

If you need a spring I have some old spares....not aware of new ones and have never been able to find a civvy equivalent to the tie rods on Ebay or special suppliers ...

Enjoy the mess.

PS.... mine were tricky to reassemble with that little spring that fits the two holes in each halves.

[Jordan Baker]

Here are some more pictures of my tie rod. It matches what is in MB-C2 and the C15A-04 Illustrated parts book.

I’m all aware of the cautions for sandblasting certain bits. They will be covered.

I’ll take you up on that offer for the spring. Thanks very much.

[Bob Carriere]

I wonder when and where the solid tie rod ends came into the scene......

Got your PM with your address will try to mail it tomorrow. Not due for Grimsby until mid March. The spring is used with NO warrantee so no charge. If we meet at the OMVA in the Spring will have a beer.

Cheers

[Jordan Baker]

Thanks. Love the MLU community. No warranty....no worries I’ll just take it to my nearest GM dealership and berate the parts counter guy until he produces one from the back.

[Bob Carriere]

Going to the PO to mail.........

Had to dig out the axle from the snow but the tie rod nut came off easy..... 3 other axles have no spring?????

Did not even wash them.....

Cheers

[Jordan Baker]

Spent the morning in the shop today. It was finally warmish enough to go out and not have freezing cold tools. Anyway I managed to make up the fromt brake lines. I was using the original hoses to make sure all the new lines match up just fine. Tomorrow’s plan is to work on the rear lines.

One question.... is the long line that goes from the master cylinder to the back all one piece? The ones I pulled off the truck were two but I believe they were made up at some point from off the shelf premade ones.