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Sean,
I faced the V-thing that I called a "Chevron" a few years ago and posted on it when I went "POLY" on the front tabs. I tried to jamb the new bushings with all kinds of grease up into the slots in the floor... and finally succeeded! Then I sat the car on the ground and if I pushed down on the rear bumper there were two horrid squeaks! Did I mention that grease was dripping right and left?
I dropped the trailing arms again despite bruises and stitches from the previous attempt, broke out the air chisel at 90PSI of drive, and 10 minutes later both chevrons were gone. Followed up with an angle grinder to smooth the two ripped spot welds on both sides, coated the bare metal with POR and went to bed to recover from my wounds. The following morning, I had the front tabs bolted up and squeak free within 20 minutes. No problems since.
When I looked at the Chevrons with the trailing arms out, it became obvious to me that the chevrons were there to aid bolt alignment during the manufacturing process. They did not appear to be structural at all as the bolt OD hit the rails before the inner bushing tube got close to the chevron. Also, on such a small piece such as the chevron, I considered the two spot welds were meant to be non-structural, ie. way too easy to snap.
Don't forget that on the production line, the entire 240 drivetrain was installed from below... more or less in one piece!
I'm not saying you should drop the trailing arms right here and now, but the next time you do, zip those chevrons out of there and never worry about a front TAB squeak again!
jorrell
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92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!
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