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1204AA

79 - 04 Ford Mustang

Doubl e Adjustabl e

Trailing Arms

Thank you for your purchase from our new line of Ford parts.

Please call us at (877) 4NO-ROLL if you have any questions

regarding th e servic e or installat i on of your Hotchkis pro du cts.

Visit us online @

www.hotchkis.net

Special Tools Required for this Installation

- 4 post lift or alignment rack preferable

- Air Chisel, Angle Finder (Digital Preferred), Dead bl o w hammer

REMOVAL OF STOCK UPPER TRAILING ARMS

1. There are various methods for installing your new upper trailing arms. Preferences in methods are mainly

based on the way you remove the old rubber Can Bushings from the differential. Some may find it easier

to detach the ent ire differential (rear end ) from the car in order t o remove the Can Bushings . This makes

it easier to get at the Can bushings for removal and replacement. The only problem with this method is

that it requires much more to be disconnected e.g. brake lines, parking brake, axle u-joint, and lower

trailing arms. Howev er, it is possible to remove the Can Bushings without taking the rear end off the car,

but it’s tricky.

In this manual, we will describe how to replace the Can Bushings without removing t he rear end from the

car.

Summary of content (11 pages)

PAGE 1
204AA 79 - 04 Ford Mustang Double Adjustable Trailing Arms Thank you for your purchase from our new line of Ford parts. Please call us at (877) 4NO-ROLL if you have any questions regarding the service or installation of your Hotchkis products. Visit us online @ www.hotchkis.net Special Tools Required for this Installation - 4 post lift or alignment rack preferable - Air Chisel, Angle Finder (Digital Preferred), Dead blow hammer REMOVAL OF STOCK UPPER TRAILING ARMS 1.
PAGE 2
. First, raise the rear of the vehicle so that the rear wheels are off the ground. If you are using a 2-post lift, support the differential with a hydraulic tranny jack. 3. Remove the stock upper trailing arms.
PAGE 3
Now here comes the difficult part; removing the stock Can Bushings. These are the bushings that connect the aft end of the upper trailing arms to the differential. - First step is to drill out the rubber bushing. Drill a sequence of holes in a circular pattern in the rubber. - Once the rubber surrounding the inner metal sleeve is pretty much drilled out, you should be able to punch out the metal sleeve.
PAGE 4
- Scrape or pull out the remaining rubber in the bushing can. All that should be left is the metal can INSTALLING NEW UPPER TRAILING ARMS 4. Lube the polyurethane bushings and push them into the can. You may need to use a dead blow hammer or large channel locks to get the bushing in all the way. It’s sometimes easier to remove the steel sleeve from the polyurethane before pushing it in the can.
PAGE 5
. Install the thrust washer onto the unflanged side of the can. 6. Set the Hotchkis Trailing Arms to the same length as the stock arm. This will give us a good starting point before we adjust for pinion angle.
PAGE 6
7. Install your new Hotchkis adjustable upper trailing arms in the same manner as the stock removal. Make sure the grease fittings on the front end are facing downward. Use all new hardware provided in your kit. Grease any polyurethane surface that contacts metal with the provided lube. 7. Make sure all hardware is fully tightened.
PAGE 7
SETTING PINION ANGLE It may be necessary to set pinion angle after installation of your new Hotchkis upper trailing arms. First of all, what is pinion angle? Pinion angle is basically the angle between the centerline of the differential pinion and the drive shaft centerline. This angle changes during acceleration and braking. If the pinion angle is excessive, then vibration and increased U-joint wear will occur. The Hotchkis double adjustable trailing arms allow you to adjust the pinion angle with ease.
PAGE 8
The simplest rule of thumb is: The centerline of the differential pinion should be parallel to the centerline of the engine’s crankshaft without being the same line. FYI… The centerlines should not be the same line because the U-joints would wear in the same areas all the time. Having an angle at the joint itself allows the joint to articulate and wear evenly along the entire bearing race. So, the first thing to do is to find out the angle the engine’s crankshaft is sitting at.
PAGE 9
If there is vibration during braking, then the pinion angle is set too low! Fine tune your Hotchkis trailing arms to achieve the perfect setting for your driving style and horsepower.
PAGE 10
Hotchkis Performance LLC Return Policy & Limited Warranty Effective December 1, 2010 all Hotchkis products must be registered to qualify for warranty at www.hotchkis.net or via the mail-in warranty card, included with the product, within 30 days of the original purchase date. IMPORTANT: This warranty supersedes all other warranties included with this product. Return Policy We want you to be completely satisfied with your Hotchkis Performance product.
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DESCRIPTION ON THE FACE HEREOF. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE DISCLAIMED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSS OF TIME OR REVENUES, INCONVENIENCE, LOSS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE, DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OR COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE, ANY OTHER TYPE OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR INDIRECT DAMAGES. HOTCHKIS’ MAXIMUM LIABILITY UNDER THIS WARRANTY SHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE PRODUCT.