Taking advice from you Guys months ago, I'm lowering my car 1-inch. New coils, then this turned into a front suspension rebuild, then New slotted rotors. Sorry off topic. The new strut rod bushings have a metal disk cup piece , I have no idea where this goes. I know where the bushings go, the sleeve and the large dished washers. I've seen some pic's on the internet, just doesn't seem to fit in the kit. Hopefully I'm explaining this right.
Thanks.
It turns out there is some significant debate about these bushing installations. I have a 69 that I am restoring and I had this very question. so, I am going to offer my suggestion based on my findings, but you should use your own judgement.
My thread (Jay Estes) on the 1969stang forum is here:
http://www.1969stang.com/mustang/forum/showthread.php?t=11192&highlight=strut+bushing
It should generally be the same for the 71-73 series.
That thread never really came to a full conclusion. Recently Justin and I took the 71 for a good alignment (and a bunch of other stuff too. $500 worth of front end labor - i supplied the parts mostly) They put the frame washer on the backside of the car frame, which I think is incorrect since braking and front wheel being pushed backwards like on pot holes or curbs, both squash the front bumper more, so I think the frame washer goes on front side between the bumper and the frame to help keep the bumper in place. However, I don't think it matters all that much, and it is a VERY experienced and qualified place I took it to.
On the cupped washers, I think it makes the most sense to put them like this:
fwd side --(@I F @)-- Wheel side
where "(" are ")" are cupped washers showing which way cupped and the "@" are bumpers with biggest side to frame, and "I" is the frame washer, and "F" is the frame.
In that above thread, the real debate comes in on the wheel-side cupped washer. There is a fair contingent of folks, and they have documentation like the patent and the Moog instructions, which support their claims.... that the wheel side cupped washer is flipped over, or:
fwd side --(@I F @(-- Wheel side
I can't for the life of me figure why you would configure it that way, and my car and other stock configs show it different than that, so - best I can tell you need to decide for youself, and again - I don't think it matters that much. I'm leaving mine cupped to fit the bumpers (like my first description)
Anyway, interesting little Q you posted. bet you didn't think there would be a debate about the right answer huh?
Jay Estes
Even more interesting is that "failed bumper" which to mee looks pretty darn new... posted by King Kong above! That shows the "frame washer" configured like the alignment shop I had to the work did, BUT, the forward bumper is the thing that split open! My thinking is the frame washer - which could act as a cup for this forward bumper - should be on the front side of the frame, helping to keep that front bumper from splitting apart as has happened in that photo...
I dunno. I can't see why you'd put that frame washer on the backside. Braking and front wheel impacts both are gonna squeeze the front bumper more. I think the frame washer should be on the front side of the frame.
My 2 cents.
Jay