Kevin- what applies to your everyday car applies to a Sunbeam. Visual
inspection is a start. Busted rubber boots, excessive play in the tie rods or
extreme looseness in the movement they will have even new. Jack one wheel up at
a time and using a pry bar, tire iron from a getto glide (non Sunbeam) place it
under the tire that's a few inches off the floor and pry up to see what the
ball joints do- there shouldn't be free movement at the top of the tire as you
pry pressure on the bar, no clunking sounds etc. Grasping the tire on each
side, try wiggling the wheel on the axle to see if the wheel bearings might be
loose. They need inspected and re-paced if the car has set for a long time-
just so you know they are right as do all the fluids from the radiator to the
rear end and all liquids in between. With everything off the jack and or
stands, try turning the steering wheel back and forth to see how much free play
you have. The lube needs checked as well as
the boots on the steering rack and by turning the steering wheel you can check
the U-joints in the steering linkage to the rack (some have greaseable zerks)
as well as get an idea if the rack is loose or worn by the amount of play.These
things could well be done in reverse order prior to jacking the car up Im sure
Im missing something important BUT thats why I posted it to the LIST as others
will chip in on anything I said wrong or missed. As for 20 YO shocks, when you
drive the car Im sure you will know if age hurt them as Im not sure what the
unwritten rule is for old, new shocks.
Good Luck
TtT
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