DIYS Front Suspension

[Dagz]

Let's talk front suspention. It's about time i got off my ass and did this. Not to mention that i just got off work and i can't sleep,

Well here we go let's walk you through this... Keep in mind that this is just the way i did it and you can make it happen any way you want, if you don't like it ... go fly a kite.

Alright start by finding a good work surface where you can easily jack the car up safley. The best place to support the car with jack stands is on the k member inside of the control arms. Keep in mind you still need room to work. now take those rims off, in this case the 18" Boss 304's.


If you are not that fimaliar witht the front end of your car yet...
Your going to be now. No just kidding do one side at a time it is easier.
I just so happen to choose to rip it all a part it really saves more time for me. Now this is what it should look like, only not as clean.


Next remove the brake calipers and rotors from the spindle by removing the 2 15 mm bolts. This way it all comes apart in one piece. Then remove the rotor it should slide right off or remove the factory clips. I tucked the calipar up behind the strut in the shock tower and fastened it with a small bungee.


Now take off the sway bar link. This will allow the lower control arm to drop far enough to let the spring out later. Use a pair of vise grips to hold the link in place and remove both top and bottom nuts. Put link back together to avoid complications later.


Ok time to jack up the lower control arm and take up some slack out of the suspention. You may have already done this by now cause you already looked at the photos. Anyways if you want to change the struts now is the time. the easiest way is to remove the 2 bolts from the spindle first and then the strut mount in the shock tower. I think they are 18mm on the spindle and 13mm on the top mount not too sure now, but anyways remove it and keep going. If you only want to change the springs ball joints ect. you really only need to undo the strut from the spindle.


Alright now look out springs are killer and can hurt so becareful. Slowly lower the jack. no spring compressor needed to take stock springs out. You should beable to let the jack down all the way and then take a pry bar and nudge the spring out of the control arm. Don't put too much tension on the rack cause we left the tierod end connected.


Well your almost there. The next few parts can be used for fox 5 stud conversion and ball joints. Remove the nut to the balljoint, there may also be a pin through it in after market situations take it out first. Get a pickle fork or ball joint fork and crack the ball joint free from the spindle in order to chage it. if you are saving the balljoint do not hit it with the hammer to break it free simply shock the balljoint by hitting the spindle where the balljoint is mounted. the rubber boots for the balljoints can be repaced but i chose to change the whole set up cause i don't want to do it again.

To be continued i cannot post anymore pics until i delte some.__________________
Vulcan crate motor, Msd 6al, blaster coil, ect., CAI, smog delete, center force dual friction, BBK chrome shorties, o/r=x pipe, 2.5'' Flowmaster 40 series, 2" sportline springs, tokico struts and shocks, energy suspension bushings, and an 8.8" with 3.55's.

"Why Dink And Drive... When You Can Smoke And Fly?"

[Dagz]

I used another bungee to hold the spindle, bearing, and tie rod out of the way.

I dont have any pictures for the last part or pressing the ball joints out because i had to borrow the tools and give them back right away, but it really is straight forward. The next thing to do is get a ball joint press. You really need air right now or it will really suck. Put the ball joint press on the ball joint with a cup large enough over the bottom of the ball joint to let it fall through the control arm when you press it out. I found the easiest way was to press the ball joint on the outter rim in a few spots to push it through the control arm.


now you need to press the ball joint back in. Use a little grease to make it go in easier. And do not put the boot on right now you dont wreck it. The press should look like this.


Tighten it in with your impact gun. Remove press and install new ball joint boot.


alright now we are going to put it all back together the way it came apart. Spindle first and nut, then the spring top in before the bottom once again a little nudge, next is the strut. take the mounts off the old strut and put them back on the new ones. remember one at a time so you remeber how it goes.


I used a 3/8 ratchet with a flat head on the end to hold the strut in place to tighten it. Tighten it to the shock tower.


Then bolt it to the spindle, put the sway bars links back in, and then put the rotor back on and the calipers, followed by the wheels


Pretty kick ass You just rebuilt the whole front end of your car.
If you have ant questions or i missed something due to lack of sleep let me know and i will change it.

Oh ya here is the new front end before paint.


CHEERS

[shakes]

Nice work Dagz, thanks for the article.

[Dagz]

Theres more to come just have to find some time. I'll contiue it with rear suspention and a diff build/5 lug swap with disc brakes. Hope this is some useful information for everyone else