Track Control Arms
Text updated:- 28 March, 2005
There are two main types of track control arm fitted to the MK1 Cortina:-
In the above photo, the earlier, two piece track control arm is at the top, while the later, forged item is below.
A third "variety" is the G.T. which uses the cast track control arm, but has a flattened section on the top face for a bump stop. The bump stop was factory fitted on export models only, by using a different engine cross-member.
The above illustration shows the "export" cross-member (much sought-after for rally cars) and believed to have been standard fitting in Australian cars, and the G.T. track control arm with the flattened section on the top face.
The Lotus track control arm has either 125E stamped in the "hollow," or its Lotus part number 28C 007. (I have been told both of these by two different people, so take your pick!)
I thought that was all there was to say about track control arms, until:-
Imagine my surprise when I found another variant!!!
Last August I ordered some inner track control arm bushes for my forged, GT arms. The bushes did not fit. I complained to the supplier who sent me another kind of bush. It fitted nicely and I thought no more of it.
Last week, I had to replace the gaiter at the bottom of the bottom ball joins. It had deteriorated through sitting about doing nothing for 15 years! This involved dismantling the anti-roll bar, and removing the inner track control arm bolt. Having replaced the gaiter, I started to re-build the parts.
With just the inner track control arm bolt fitted, there was considerable "play" in the bush. I reckon about 3 - 4 mm (which is pretty good, for me, considering I don't speak millimetres). I immediately blamed the bush suppliers again.
Today, I spent about an hour looking at the bushes, removing the "offending" bush from the arm. After some time, I realised I had a "different" track control arm. Look at the photos below:-
The top arm is the mystery one. Despite the photo, the measurements between hole centres is the same, as far as I can tell.
The top, mystery arm, is altogether thicker. Note the shoulder where the arm meets the hole.
This hole caused all the trouble. Neither type of track control arm inner bush would fit correctly. The markings on the arm are:- 3671 - 1497, an arrow pointing down, and the letters TCA.
After appealing for help in identifying these arms, I learnt they are made by Armstrong. The MK1 Cortina Owner's Club in the UK bought a job-lot of these Armstrong arms a long time ago, and this is probably how I came to have them on the car. It has been undergoing restoration for nearly 18 years, and I can't remember when, how, where or anything about the track control arms.
There are different bushes required for these arms, and they are available to members of the MK1 Cortina Owner's Club.
Hope this helps someone else!
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Page last modified:- 28 March, 2005