1800: Front Crossmember removal

[peter clark]

Are there any known issues with removing the front suspension x-member?

In particular the two front bolts underneath where they screw into the chassis - I assume they screw into captive nuts. I want to remove mine for renovation, but fear that if the captive nut gives way inside the chassis rail i'll be up the proverbial.

Has this ever happened to anyone, & if so, how did you deal with it?

Thanks, Pete

[classicswede]

Never had it happen, they always come undone. I have had to put in new captive nuts on a couple of cars but that was due to the chassis being rotten in that area.

While the cross member is off I highly recommend seam welding the plates where the lower wishbones bolt goes through and plate the damper mounts

[Derek UK]

Important: As you remove it, carefully collect the shims used at the bolt up positions. Keep these seperate as individual packs and refit in the same positions. I 'm sure you will give them a clean. These shims, as well as correcting the small amounts of out of square during build, set the suspension caster/castor.

[Ron Kwas]

Pete;

Derek has it right of course!

Source: https://www.sw-em.com/Wheels_Tires_S...ont_Suspension

The "Reverse of Disassembly" cannot correctly occur, if these are missing or changed.

Cheers

[peter clark]

Ah thank you gents, I did not know that.
Every day is a school day...

[Army]

Hash tag semi-thread jack and all that...

...When I took my PV to bits there weren't any shims between the chassis legs and the subframe.

Could this be a sign something has not been done correctly before I got me mits on it?

I guess I need to make some careful measurements to make sure the subframe goes in nice and straight...

[Derek UK]

PV caster and camber are both set using the screwed bits of the outer suspension.

Comments here for example.
https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo..._question.html

[Army]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

PV caster and camber are both set using the screwed bits of the outer suspension.

Comments here for example.
https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo..._question.html

I think you've covered this before with me - my mind is swilling round and round - all a bit Ground Hog Day here...

...thanks

[thx569]

Originally Posted by Army

...When I took my PV to bits there weren't any shims between the chassis legs and the subframe.

Could this be a sign something has not been done correctly before I got me mits on it?

I guess I need to make some careful measurements to make sure the subframe goes in nice and straight...

I have mine out as well. PV 544. NO shims required there. The cross member sits directly under the "frame" rails. Castor/camber is set on the upper A-arm.

[Army]

Originally Posted by thx569

I have mine out as well. PV 544. NO shims required there. The cross member sits directly under the "frame" rails. Castor/camber is set on the upper A-arm.

Thanks I'd forgotten that Derek UK had already told me about the lack of shims on the 544

The assumption that I'm worried about suspension adjustment is part of this stealth knowledge people have about the 1800 that I do not share! I was just worried I was missing some shims after taking the car to bits. My car has been taken apart on more than one occasion in the past - there is always the danger someone else has not put things back...

...that was my only concern. The future spares shoipping list is slowly getting longer and longer: Could have spent some time looking for something that was never there (!)