Billet A-Arms?


mishref said:
Neilda,

Thanks, We got a good offer on the GT, and after you see it you can't refuse a Ford GT.

I had the tires pulled and the control arms inspected.

The car started pulling to the right and we took it to our local genius mechanic. It turns out the rear right upper control arm came loose, and possibly driven on for a month.

We checked with Ford-USA and the car is not on the control arm recall list (thankfully).

My mechanic was able to attach it and re-tighten it, he also recommended replacing the upper rear control arms because it might have been damaged.

I am wondering if I should replace it and if so, where should I get the parts from.
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Was there any OBVIOUS damage to the A-arm? If so, then the answer's probably clear. If NOT, you could have the A-arm x-rayed to check for flaws. If none are present, one would THINK it should be alright to reuse it.

What say you other guys? Bill? Jay?
 
I think the a-arm can be inspected visually and by x-ray if needed. From the description of what occured, I'd be much more concerned with damage to the threads - which are in to the aluminum structure. I would remove the dog-bone bolts and inspect these threads for damage. The fact that they will re-tighten does NOT mean that there is not significant damage to the threads.
 
Mish, may I call you that, now that we've been introduced? :biggrin

I assume the car is now driving fine and that the A arm has therefore been absolutely identified as the cause of the car wandering/drifting?

If that is the case, then I would seek to have a detailed examination of the one that was loose - it's likely it could have buckled/deformed rather than showing any signs of cracking. This being the case, damage is harder to spot.

Curious that it was loose. With the power that the GT puts on the road, having a loose part at the point of delivery would be extremely worrying.

Call Dave Jones on +44 1277 261 400. He's the GT guy at Roush in the UK. It would be hard to find someone more helpful - so be nice to him and I'm sure he can arrange to have a part sent out to you.
 
X-ray or Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI) would work as well if you can not find an x-ray house. As the control arms are aluminum MPI cannot be used.
 
Alright Indy, what do all those acronyms mean? Come clean are you're going to get it with the medical terms.
 
Thanks for all the help!

The part came loose again; the thread is definitely gone. I took it to the local dealer to give it the once over before I start ordering replacement parts. I also picked up a service manual off ebay that should help diagnosis future issues (the local dealer is a tad uneducated with GTs).

Hopefully we can get her up and running for GulfRun (local DE).
 
Just for you Frank

Ok Frank....

FPI is frequently used as a NON-destructive means of inspecting a metal part. The part is cleaned and dipped into a fluorescent (usually day-glow green in color) for a perscribed period of time, removed, washed and then the part is inspected under a "black-light". If the part contains any flaws (cracks) the fluorescent fluid get trapped in the crack and does not wash off during this part of the process. When examined under the black-light the retained fluid glows indicating a crack or at least an area which should be further investigated. There are different types of fluorescent fluid viscosities which can alter the "sensitivity" of the process. Fairly quick and easy. Used extensively in the aerospace industry.
http://www.mtc62.com/pdf/FPI Overview, MTC.pdf


MPI is magnetic particle inspection another NON-destructive inspection technique which can be only used on ferrous (iron or steel based) materials. The operator sprays or applies a slurry solution to the part to be inspected which contains small particles of iron. An electric current is then passed through the part to be inspected and any surface irregularity (crack or indication) will slightly alter the magnetic field produced by the current passing through the part and align the magnetic particles in the slurry in a different alignment than the non-cracked portions of the part. Thus a give away that a region needs further investigation.
http://www.mtc62.com/pdf/MPI Overview, MTC.pdf

Ok, so now how about some medical terms.......
 
I love readin' your stuff

Indy GT said:
Ok Frank....

FPI is frequently used as a NON-destructive means of inspecting a metal part. The part is cleaned and dipped into a fluorescent (usually day-glow green in color) for a perscribed period of time, removed, washed and then the part is inspected under a "black-light". If the part contains any flaws (cracks) the fluorescent fluid get trapped in the crack and does not wash off during this part of the process. When examined under the black-light the retained fluid glows indicating a crack or at least an area which should be further investigated. There are different types of fluorescent fluid viscosities which can alter the "sensitivity" of the process. Fairly quick and easy. Used extensively in the aerospace industry.
http://www.mtc62.com/pdf/FPI Overview, MTC.pdf


MPI is magnetic particle inspection another NON-destructive inspection technique which can be only used on ferrous (iron or steel based) materials. The operator sprays or applies a slurry solution to the part to be inspected which contains small particles of iron. An electric current is then passed through the part to be inspected and any surface irregularity (crack or indication) will slightly alter the magnetic field produced by the current passing through the part and align the magnetic particles in the slurry in a different alignment than the non-cracked portions of the part. Thus a give away that a region needs further investigation.
http://www.mtc62.com/pdf/MPI Overview, MTC.pdf

Ok, so now how about some medical terms.......
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Fact based answers - always!
 
Where do we start? Simple CAT, MRI or PET scans? ER/PR & HER2 studies? UTI's, URI's checked by FP, IM, NUS or PTH. Thank you for the insitefull explanations. FJP
 
Thanks Frank!

OK....I give...!
 
fjpikul said:
Where do we start? Simple CAT, MRI or PET scans? ER/PR & HER2 studies? UTI's, URI's checked by FP, IM, NUS or PTH. Thank you for the insitefull explanations. FJP
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Bill, I also knew nothing about those auto abbreviations (big surprise there), so thanks for the descriptions - sounds like something you'd do in a science lab. I love reading your posts. :thumbsup Now I'll help out our dear Dr. Pickle (abbreviations quite fitting to a pathologist), because after working in abbreviations all day, I doubt he remembers what the real words even are. :biggrin

ER & PR are estrogen & progestin receptors. HER2 is human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. People w/breast cancer have their cancer cells checked for these hormone receptors (ER & PR). It helps the MD determine which form of tx might work best. For example, if you are HER2+ it means the cancer is probably more aggressive & will metastasize quicker than HER2-. This is obviously not a good thing & the MD might choose to start chemo (a more aggressive form of tx) based on the result of this test. (hopefully many people on here haven't heard of these terms)

CT (computed axial tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), & PET (positron emission tomography) scans are radiology tests that most people are probably familiar with. CT uses XR & the computer to produce images at different angles in slices. Not as much radiation as a normal XR & great to use as a diagnostic tool or to aid in things like needle bx's. W/PET scans, you first give the pt a radioactive dose & they're good for studying brain activity, finding tumors, etc. I don't see these done very often. MRI's obtain cross-secional images like CT's, but they use a magnetic field instead of XR or radiation. You have to be careful not to have this test done if you have metal in your body (ie, shrapnel). Even if the machine is turned off & you walk up by the machine with earrings on, the earrings will pull at your ears. Not a fun test if you're claustrophobic!

UTI's are urinary tract infections & URI's are upper respiratory infections.

Infections are checked by: FP (family practice), IM (internal medicine), NUS (nursing), &/or PTH (pathology).

Now back to the GT... :cheers
 
piccola said:
CT (computed axial tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), & PET (positron emission tomography) scans are radiology tests that most people are probably familiar with. CT uses XR & the computer to produce images at different angles in slices. Not as much radiation as a normal XR & great to use as a diagnostic tool or to aid in things like needle bx's. W/PET scans, you first give the pt a radioactive dose & they're good for studying brain activity, finding tumors, etc.

I don't see these done very often.
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We utilize combined PET/CT's all the time in radiation oncology. Anatomic info from the CT, functional data on active cancer cells from the PET. It's revolutionizing our field, the same way CT's did 20 years ago. Amazing stuff.

(sorry for the OT)
 
Well pretty good 'ol Piccola, just one error. NUS stands for neurosurgeon, not nurse. Nice explanantions as well. I think we'll have to give 'ol Indy GT a taste of colonoscopy and prostate massage.
 
piccola said:
Bill, I also knew nothing about those auto abbreviations (big surprise there), so thanks for the descriptions - sounds like something you'd do in a science lab. I love reading your posts. :thumbsup Now I'll help out our dear Dr. Pickle (abbreviations quite fitting to a pathologist), because after working in abbreviations all day, I doubt he remembers what the real words even are. :biggrin

ER & PR are estrogen & progestin receptors. HER2 is human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. People w/breast cancer have their cancer cells checked for these hormone receptors (ER & PR). It helps the MD determine which form of tx might work best. For example, if you are HER2+ it means the cancer is probably more aggressive & will metastasize quicker than HER2-. This is obviously not a good thing & the MD might choose to start chemo (a more aggressive form of tx) based on the result of this test. (hopefully many people on here haven't heard of these terms)

CT (computed axial tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), & PET (positron emission tomography) scans are radiology tests that most people are probably familiar with. CT uses XR & the computer to produce images at different angles in slices. Not as much radiation as a normal XR & great to use as a diagnostic tool or to aid in things like needle bx's. W/PET scans, you first give the pt a radioactive dose & they're good for studying brain activity, finding tumors, etc. I don't see these done very often. MRI's obtain cross-secional images like CT's, but they use a magnetic field instead of XR or radiation. You have to be careful not to have this test done if you have metal in your body (ie, shrapnel). Even if the machine is turned off & you walk up by the machine with earrings on, the earrings will pull at your ears. Not a fun test if you're claustrophobic!

UTI's are urinary tract infections & URI's are upper respiratory infections.

Infections are checked by: FP (family practice), IM (internal medicine), NUS (nursing), &/or PTH (pathology).

Now back to the GT... :cheers
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you now are really scaring me :wink
 
YEA ME TOO, Mad!!!!

Whooooo, there fella!!!!

Thanks Piccola, you know your stuff.....
 
What no more tilt your head and cough?

(Bill be careful. You live way too close to fjpikul.)
 
Thanks for all the help! .. had a chance to pull apart the car this weekend and give it a full look over.

Good news, the control arms are fine (post-recall) Bad news, the link stabilizers need replacing.

My new shopping list:
FD4G7Z-5B551-A Link
FD4G7Z-5C486-LH Link Stabilizer
FD4G7Z-5C486-RH Link Stabilizer
 
mishref said:
Thanks for all the help! .. had a chance to pull apart the car this weekend and give it a full look over.

Good news, the control arms are fine (post-recall) Bad news, the link stabilizers need replacing.

My new shopping list:
FD4G7Z-5B551-A Link
FD4G7Z-5C486-LH Link Stabilizer
FD4G7Z-5C486-RH Link Stabilizer
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Just curious; how many miles on your gal?

Thank you

Shadowman
 
6000 miles ... She was probably poorly maintained by the previous owner, can't imagine why those parts would be the first to go.
 
mishref said:
6000 miles ... She was probably poorly maintained by the previous owner, can't imagine why those parts would be the first to go.
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I really do not understand why those parts would wear out that quick. We have some of the roughest roads in the state where I do most of my driving. I have about twice the mileage on my car as you do and have a very slight amount off egging in the stabilizer bushings. It wouldn't be so much that she was poorly maintained but maybe she was just driven hard on some very rough surfaces. What do you know about the history of the car?
 
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