Front Suspension re-build advice
Posted: 09 Mar 2017, 21:09
Hi....
...I am currently re-building my front suspension... ALL new bushings - no ball joints/tie rod ends because they are new from the previous owner. Shocks... I am not sure yet. I will also replace the rotors and wheel bearings, but I will leave the calipers alone (except for painting the exterior) because they work well now and I have a time limit before the State Technical Control
Anyway, I am now in the middle of tearing down all the front end (first time I ever did this ...some things are going well, but of course having some problems also. I would like to ask some advice and help with my most serious problems.
1) How do I remove this big nut which connects the Lower Ball Joint (LBJ) to the Lower Controlling Arm (LCA)? I am hoping to get the LCA lowered and the SPRING removed BEFORE removing the calipers, BUT even with the calipers removed I still can not see how I can even get a socket on this LBJ NUT....??? Any ideas?
LBJ NUT
2) A smaller problem is how do I disconnect the STEERING RACK from that STEERING ROD... I know maybe this is obvious - just unbolt it??? But is there any special consideration for this so I do not mess up my steering alignment?
STEERING RACK
3) Last thing: The lower bolts holding the SHOCK ABSORBER on at the bottom are TOTALLY STUCK and WON'T MOVE. This is the early style "stamped" LCA so the nut is "inside" the LCA so difficult to clean the threads... maybe I should use a MAPP torch on it?
Also 2 X 19mm bolts on the drivers side calipers are TOTALLY STUCK..... very frustrating.
Otherwise everything is going well....
THANKS
Edward
...I am currently re-building my front suspension... ALL new bushings - no ball joints/tie rod ends because they are new from the previous owner. Shocks... I am not sure yet. I will also replace the rotors and wheel bearings, but I will leave the calipers alone (except for painting the exterior) because they work well now and I have a time limit before the State Technical Control
Anyway, I am now in the middle of tearing down all the front end (first time I ever did this ...some things are going well, but of course having some problems also. I would like to ask some advice and help with my most serious problems.
1) How do I remove this big nut which connects the Lower Ball Joint (LBJ) to the Lower Controlling Arm (LCA)? I am hoping to get the LCA lowered and the SPRING removed BEFORE removing the calipers, BUT even with the calipers removed I still can not see how I can even get a socket on this LBJ NUT....??? Any ideas?
LBJ NUT
2) A smaller problem is how do I disconnect the STEERING RACK from that STEERING ROD... I know maybe this is obvious - just unbolt it??? But is there any special consideration for this so I do not mess up my steering alignment?
STEERING RACK
3) Last thing: The lower bolts holding the SHOCK ABSORBER on at the bottom are TOTALLY STUCK and WON'T MOVE. This is the early style "stamped" LCA so the nut is "inside" the LCA so difficult to clean the threads... maybe I should use a MAPP torch on it?
Also 2 X 19mm bolts on the drivers side calipers are TOTALLY STUCK..... very frustrating.
Otherwise everything is going well....
THANKS
Edward