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Fairlane Meteor Tool More info Please
- Thread starter ChelleRee82
- Start date
welder4956
Well-known member
Alignment tool?
Mechanical Noise
Well-known member
The Fairlane/Meteor of the 60s had the spring above the upper control arm. A tool like that would be placed on the upper control arm and the frame rail to allow the car to be jacked up and keep the control arm in an almost normal position.
Don't remember why that was needed. My brother had a couple of mid-60s T-Birds which had the same sort of front end and we did the suspension work without it. But I remember the service manual showed how one could be welded up from flat stock.
Don't remember why that was needed. My brother had a couple of mid-60s T-Birds which had the same sort of front end and we did the suspension work without it. But I remember the service manual showed how one could be welded up from flat stock.
kabinenroller
Well-known member
Fairlanes and Meteors were similar but had different front suspensions.
The Meteor had a coil spring above the upper control arm like Fairlane, Mustang, Comet, and Falcon. BUT, the Meteor also had a small coil spring located on the front strut rod ( which was stamped steel on this car) this is the only vehicle Ford used this design on. I have no idea why they did it but after the Meteor model ended (1962-1963)they never used the design again.
The Meteor had a coil spring above the upper control arm like Fairlane, Mustang, Comet, and Falcon. BUT, the Meteor also had a small coil spring located on the front strut rod ( which was stamped steel on this car) this is the only vehicle Ford used this design on. I have no idea why they did it but after the Meteor model ended (1962-1963)they never used the design again.
ttpete
Well-known member
The Fairlane/Meteor of the 60s had the spring above the upper control arm. A tool like that would be placed on the upper control arm and the frame rail to allow the car to be jacked up and keep the control arm in an almost normal position.
Don't remember why that was needed. My brother had a couple of mid-60s T-Birds which had the same sort of front end and we did the suspension work without it. But I remember the service manual showed how one could be welded up from flat stock.
Maybe for changing ball joints or shocks?
Mechanical Noise
Well-known member
Fairlanes and Meteors were similar but had different front suspensions.
The Meteor had a coil spring above the upper control arm like Fairlane, Mustang, Comet, and Falcon. BUT, the Meteor also had a small coil spring located on the front strut rod ( which was stamped steel on this car) this is the only vehicle Ford used this design on. I have no idea why they did it but after the Meteor model ended (1962-1963)they never used the design again.
Back then, Mercurys were supposed to have softer rides than Fords. I think early 60s big Mercs used big elliptical rubber bushings on the lower control arms rather than the plain round bushings on Fords, so the wheel could deflect back even more on bumps. They also had a goofy movable link connecting the forward lower control arm bushing to the frame bushing, no doubt to ensure that FoMoCo was the industry leader in the Big 3 bump steer category.
Mechanical Noise
Well-known member
Maybe for changing ball joints or shocks?
Very likely. I know we changed the ball joints on the T Bird without that tool, but I don't remember if we pulled the upper control arms (to install grease fittings) or if we simply used a ball joint press.
Now that I'm thinking of it, I'm pretty sure the shock limits downward motion of the upper control arm.
ttpete
Well-known member
Very likely. I know we changed the ball joints on the T Bird without that tool, but I don't remember if we pulled the upper control arms (to install grease fittings) or if we simply used a ball joint press.
Now that I'm thinking of it, I'm pretty sure the shock limits downward motion of the upper control arm.
It's been a long time since I worked on those, but I do remember that the upper shock mount bolted onto the top of the spring tower, and the shock mounts sometimes broke, allowing the shock stem to punch a hole through the hood.