Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Hi all,

I'm getting started on the re-assembly of my front end. I thought I'd ask a few questions that I think will come up, that aren't covered in my manual (which by the way, kinda sucks. It's the original shop manual and gives directions like "if you have any movement in ball joints, remove and inspect" That's it, nothing about tolerances, let alone how to remove or re-install them.) Rant over.

Sorry, some of these questions sound dumb, even to me, but I'm installing about $1000 worth of parts and don't want to screw any of them up, and I'd rather not have to do it twice. I'm installing 3 new tie-rods, a new idler and lower ball joints on my '68 2 liter.

First, torqueing stuff down. I've got no torque settings in my book, so do I just give everything a few good grunts?

The ball joints didn't come with any zerk fittings. Do I assume they are pre-greased, and if so, do I never need to grease them? There is a small hole in the grease boot, which has a plug in it, that I could use to fill it with grease if need be.

The Ball Joints came un-painted. Should I paint them, and if so, stock color would be flat black or semi-gloss?

Is there a left and right ball joint? On the left and right tie rods, is there a top and bottom? In other words, on the right side, does it matter which end goes to the idler?

What kind of grease should I put in the idler? It is currently dry. On that note, what about greasing the rest of ther parts. My grease gun has some purple grease in that has been in it for so long I don't even know what it is or where I got it. The new parts have a clear yellowish grease, should I use the same stuff, and if so, what is it?

After I get it all installed, it's off to alignment shop. I think I'll try my local Nissan dealer. Can somebody send me the alignment spec's in case they don't have them?

Thanks in advance.

Sounds like you will have a nice driving car when you are done. I don't think there is any diference on the ball joints, you do need to replace the plug in the bottom of the ball joints with zirks (the same with everything else that moves on the front of a roadster.) Use a good synthetic grease, be very carefull that you don't ruin the new boots on the tie rods and ball joints. As for the torque settings, I don't know. Good luck, its fairly straight forward just take your time and make sure everything is greased.

Will

Hi Joe..Your car should really like what your doing to it .... From past experience I would make sure I also replaced the upper A arm rods and bushings. Kinda cheap, around $100, and they are still available thru venders. The lower ones are usually the last thing to wear out and hard to find. Even though you are using new parts you might want to replace original boots with ureathane ones. They will last the life of the car. New wheel bearing will also help too.
Once you get things put back together it will be so tight that you won't beleave it.
I wore out a set of lower ball joints in now time by only replacing them and not doing the rest of the components. Good luck and fit it all together before torqueing anything down. Bill

DELETED

This looks like a canidate for the Spec page updates. (only if they aren't there already)

I'm having difficulty installing the new rubber boots for the tie rods. There are 6 of them. Is there a tool or procedure that makes this easier?

Flip them inside out, slide over threads, then slowly roll them back over keeping presure against boot till it plops back over at the grove. Wiggle into grove if not in.

Jeff
68 2000
69 2000