At 01:16 AM 5/26/2011, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>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.

Hey, I was thirty before I figured out how a tire gauge works, and
boy did I feel dumb.

>"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.

Actually the upper and lower control arms do that, attaching to the
steering knuckle by the upper and lower ball joints and holding it
vertical throughout the suspension travel.

>  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.

It goes through a hole in a hefty frame member, with a rubber
doughnut compressed on each side of the hole.

>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.

The forward end of this thing is just even with the front of the
tire.  If I reach in and wrap my hand around it, the face of the tire
is in the crook of my elbow.  So assuming there's room to get your
arm in there she'll be right.

Yrs,
d