[Guest]

Well i got my Front end rebuild a couple of weeks ago. now its time to install it. can i do all the work at my house or is it to difficult. I have a pit to work under, jack, jack stands and lots of tools in my garage. Is there any special tools i would need, i dont have a torque wrench either, so would i need one. thanks guys, i dont want to have to pay $400 to have it installed. I have done all my past projects(ie, headers, plugs, wires) but never suspension.

 

[Guest]

Patience, lots and lots of patience.

A torque wrench is nice if you like being part of the "living" crowd. An over or undertorqued suspension part means bye-bye on the onramp doing 70.

If you're doing bushings & balljoints, you'll need some sort of press, or pay a machine shop to do it. Opinions vary, I had a shop do that part after reading lots of other stories. I'd also never tackled such a project before. Air tools are a godsend. You might want a spring compressor. I also was thankful for my BFH's. Beer, beer is good.

Oh yeah, bandaids, also get all the hardware, nuts & bolts you'll need to replace, and one last thing, patience, lots of patience.

 

[Guest]

what spare bolt sizes do you recommend and what exactly needs to be pressed??

 

[Guest]

what exactly needs to be pressed

sometimes the original ball joints(upper and/or lower) want to be a pain in the butt and stay where they are seated.

When trying to bang them out with a hammer, they still stay in their position and the only way to guarantee removal is by using a hydraulic press to "press them out"

I have a pit to work under, jack, jack stands and lots of tools in my garage

I'd definitely say If you believe in yourself you can do it

as I've replaced centerlink, idler arm, inner and out tie rods with just a 2 ton jack and some basic tools.

I've yet to tackle my ball joints as I don't have the necessary tools to do it right.(spring compressor, air tools, 1/2" rachet set...)

 

[Guest]

The four balljoints, and eight bushings are pressed in, and out if you like.

As far as getting them out, you're replacing them, so you can blast them out with an M16 if you want, doesn't really matter. Some people use hammers or torches.

As for bolts, I can't remember the exact sizes. But I did replace all my lower shock mount bolts since I sawzalled them off. I didn't replace any bolts but I replaced all the nuts, what I would do there is take off one LCA-frame nut, and one UCA-frame nut, then go get replacements. Also go pick up a couple extra cotter pins, I lost most of mine in the process. If you're taking out the springs, get new coil insulators. That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Another forum member gave me some great directions for the whole process that I'll dig up and send on to you if you like.

 

[Guest]

The upper balljoints aren't pressed in like the lower ones are, they're riveted. You'll have to drill into the heads and chisel them off. The replacements are then bolted in.

Go to your local Autozone store and they'll loan you the balljoint press for free (it looks like a big C clamp with a bunch of adapters). You'll also need a balljoint and tierod end separator (pickle fork). A 2 pound drilling hammer helps too.

 

[Guest]

Does Autozone still loan out the tool if your not buying any parts from them at the time you request the tool?

 

[Guest]

Yes. I have borrowed tools from AutoZone without purchasing any parts from them.

It is more like a tool purchase with a very liberal return policy. Here is how it works (at least how it works at my local AutoZone):

1. They charge your credit card for what I assume is the full price of the tool. For example, they charged my credit card $99 for a ball joint press.

2. You have 90 days to return the tool (helps if you keep the receipt). When the tool is returned, they will credit full the amount back to your credit card.


-- Dan