Articulating Front Strut Rod...FYI

[ZFORCE]

While creating my gallery of photos, I came across one of my old pics and thought I'd post it.

In case you've never seen it, the 67 Cougar had an articulating front strut that allows the LCA to travel in it's suspension arc and still provide the ability to stabilize the LCA against fore/aft movement. Predates any of the new strut designs!

The 67 Cougar strut is on the left, my 67 Mustang strut is on the right.

BTW the Cougar strut assembly, with Discs is now on Dirty Harry! I have never driven her so I don't know how it feels. Currently working on my back yard...then I get to play with my Stangs!

 

[Fast68back]

Very interesting....

 

[PJ Moran]

Very interesting, indeed. I'd heard they were "special", but never seen one.

The ordinary rod forces the LCA to twist as it moves up and down. The ball joint and rubber bushing at the pivot tolerate this. This Cougar setup appears to cut down on the twisting forces on the LCA - probably resulting in smoother, more linear action. Cougars were "luxury" Mustangs and were designed for better ride quality.

LCA's with spherical bearings at the pivot will work just as well, but do transfer more vibration to the "frame". My TCP coilover setup has ball-type joints at both the strut rod front mount and the LCA pivot point. It's very free-moving.

 

[Jonk67]

Just curious, it appears the Cougar has a 'knuckle' at the LCA mount end that allows L/R movement of the arm but still has rubber bushings at the front mount (same as the Mustang) which is what allows the acceleration/braking push/pull which allows the alignment change we don't want and the heims/rod ends eliminate. How does the Cougar setup differ from the Mustang setup other than the addition of the horizontal 'knuckle'. Not sure what the 'knuckle' accomplishes? seems it would allow the front frame to shift L/R in relation to the LCA under turning force?

The design of adjustable strut rods allows only vertical movement through the operating arc of the suspension w/o compression/stretch between the LCA and front mount, rubber front mounts would still have this undesired effect, no?

Jon

 

[B67FSTB]

Very interesting !! More info please.

 

[Shaun]

While creating my gallery of photos, I came across one of my old pics and thought I'd post it.

In case you've never seen it, the 67 Cougar had an articulating front strut that allows the LCA to travel in it's suspension arc and still provide the ability to stabilize the LCA against fore/aft movement. Predates any of the new strut designs!

The 67 Cougar strut is on the left, my 67 Mustang strut is on the right.

BTW the Cougar strut assembly, with Discs is now on Dirty Harry! I have never driven her so I don't know how it feels. Currently working on my back yard...then I get to play with my Stangs!

Looks like more bind/play than the Mustang setup. Is that rubber in that knuckle?

I won't be modifying my strut rod design!