On Wed, 2011-05-25 at 21:56 -0400, David Beierl wrote:

"Late in '84 they changed the giant sheet metal part to a somewhat
smaller cast part with some associated changes in other parts including
the giant tension rod.  40.6a details those changes."

Just to be clear, my Bentley does not have a 40.6a. It goes 40.2, 40.2a,
40.3, 40.4, 40.5, 40.6, 40.7, 40.8, etc. Was "40.6a" a typo? 40.2a
details the strut bar bolts on the earlier, "giant sheet metal" part.
40.7 shows the later part, with the giant sheet metal part replaced with
a "somewhat smaller cast part."

So, lemme see if I can figure out this puzzle.

Jake said "giant tension rod." Another part detailed on the
before-and-after pages is the "strut bar." I like this as the candidate
part for the "giant tension rod" as it is rod-like. But it looks kinda
skinny to be a "giant" tension rod. The torque specs for its two ends
are fairly substantial though.

So I'm voting for that part.

On Wed, 2011-05-25 at 21:56 -0400, David Beierl ALSO wrote:
> At 09:42 PM 5/25/2011, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
> >David B is messing with me, everyone!
>
> No, he's offering you an opportunity to know more about suspension
> parts.  Like for example the one that keeps the front wheel from
> folding back into your foot.

I really don't want to have to learn how a front suspension works, I
really really don't. I barely know how a flashlight works.

"Folding." As in, the top of the wheel tilting inward, toppling over
against my leg? Um . . . looks like the Coil Spring keeps that from
happening. Or "folding" as in rotationg about the axis of the coil
spring? Well, then that Strut Bar appears to prevent that from
happening. Depending on what its fore end attaches to. That's unclear
from the drawings.

Well, it's late and I've taken this as far as I can. All I can say is
that if it is that strut bar that Jake suggested tying a recovery strap
to, I'm hoping it never comes to that, on account of my unreasonable
fear of climbing under cars that are really really close to the ground.
Put the thing up on ramps, fore and aft, and I'm okay. But being stuck
in some sand or gravel is the opposite of that.

-- RJS