Starting tomorrow I will be doing a rebuild of my front suspension; including 460lb coil springs, ball Joints upper/lower, tie rods upper/lower, idle arm, control arm shaft bushings, upper/lower and right side upper control are shaft. I have the "How To" dvd from Van Steel and of course my AIM and several other manuals. I have done front end work before, but was several years ago. I am not worried about it, but thought I'd better check in with you all before I start.
Any pointers, advice or warnings that Mr. Been There Done Than can give me??
Thanks!
   Phill's Vette2008-10-02 19:10:43

Did my control arm bushings and coils last winter. Being someone that works with wood all day I was pretty happy with how it turned out. I was concerned about removing the old coils but it was easy with a nylon strap wrapped around the coil and control arm before lowering the jack. Used new 460's and they went in easy being shorter that the originals. Never did ball joints before so I was afraid to hit the fork too hard at first.
Got a lot of help and advice right here.
Jeffm2008-10-02 19:59:06

Pre-soak everything with PB Blaster head of time. A few days at least.  This will help when taking off nuts and bolts.  I sprayed all the parts several times in one week and it helped a lot.

Be sure to support both sides of the control arms when you press the bushings in and out.  They bend very easily and are usually ruined if they bend.  I believe we are the only people to offer rebuilt control arms on an exchange basis.  They are bead blasted, painted, and re-assembled with correct parts including rivets on the ball joints.  They are $539.00 exchange including a complete front end rebuild kit.

Larry

I recently did upper & lower control arms shafts and bushings, ball joints, left spindle, steering arm, swaybar links, shocks. I think that's about it. Like Indy says, squirt some juice on the nuts an bolts  prior. Its pretty much a piece of cake, except lower control arms. Make sure the spring is in cup when you lift the C.A. up, or you will have to drop it again. I bolted the C.A. up first and tried to swing it up to put spring in place and it can't be done because of the angle. I had to run spring up first and then swing C.A. up and line up bolts. I had to use an internal spring depressor in order to do this. Then I used a hoist, 2 floor jacks, and 2 jack stands. I did it meself, but it would be a lot easier with 2 people. Good luck with it. You can doer. If Bubba can u can too.my7T12008-10-03 09:37:40