My Front End Rebuild ThreadThread

[MrJLR]

So today I finished installing my steering column. All done and zero spare parts LOL !
So I dove straight into rebuilding my front end. Today I was just disassembly and i didnt even finish it completely. ....

I discovered pieces of wire in lew of cotter pins....loose bolts and other bad work.....

Had to get a new pickle fork....

Old vs new....

I tried to remove the upper ball joint with my special socket and a breaker bar.....FORGET IT.....impact did the trick though...

Anyway, tomorrow I'll finish tearing it down, start cleaning and make up some tools to press my bushings.....

More to come!

Jeff

Edit: just noticed the thread title "thread thread"...LOL !

 

[krazykuda]

If you have the proper size 1/2" deep well sockets, you can use those to help press in the upper control arm bushings in a vise...

That's my ad-vice....

 

[MrJLR]

If you have the proper size 1/2" deep well sockets, you can use those to help press in the upper control arm bushings in a vise...

That's my ad-vice....

"Ad-Vice"........Har Har har....!

 

[AJ/FormS]

Here's another tip; Install the BJ first.
If you wreck the UCA by cross-threading the BJ into it, or the threads just won't hang on to the new BJ, then you won't have to press the bushings out again to install them into a different UCA.

 

[MrJLR]

Here's another tip; Install the BJ first.
If you wreck the UCA by cross-threading the BJ into it, or the threads just won't hang on to the new BJ, then you won't have to press the bushings out again to install them into a different UCA.

Good tip!
Guess that ball joint is going in tomorrow morning. ..before I mess with installing the bushings......

 

[MrJLR]

Well, I got the drives side all tore down over the weekend.....nice pile of parts!

I brought the LCA and new bushing with me to work so I can use the press and welder etc and get it swapped out. Don't know if I'll do it today....as long as it's done before Friday when I put it back together.....woohoo!

Jeff

 

[AJ/FormS]

That rotor looks to have an odd wear pattern?

 

[MrJLR]

That rotor looks to have an odd wear pattern?

I don't think so....it's dirty from my hands....I'll check it out.
It actually don't have hardly any wear on it.....it's almost new.

 

[R4Sedan]

Jeff, I just tore my whole suspension down on my Baracuda. I cleaned a lot of the parts (soaked) overnight in muratic acid then to evapo rust. Worked great.

 

[MrJLR]

Jeff, I just tore my whole suspension down on my Baracuda. I cleaned a lot of the parts (soaked) overnight in muratic acid then to evapo rust. Worked great.

I was thinking of getting some of the parts hot-tanked....some of it is beyond nasty!

 

[AJ/FormS]

OK, I though it looked like the pads were only contacting on the outer 50% of the rotor.

 

[MrJLR]

OK, I though it looked like the pads were only contacting on the outer 50% of the rotor.

I'll double check though.....just to be sure....thanks for the keen eyes!

 

[MrJLR]

I took my LCA to work this morning...pressed out the pivot shaft - of course the inner sleeve of the bushing stayed on it. No big deal...got that off. I dug out the rubber and jumped on a lathe to make two flat disks 1.600" diameter by 1/4" thick. Tomorrow I'll tack them on the outter flange sleeve and press it out.
(I only get a half hour lunch...as long as I'm all done by Friday so I can put it back together!)

 

[AJ/FormS]

Yup, well, that should do it.
Good a method as any, I suppose
I've tried a few other methods.
Be careful on the welding! That you only weld what you want to weld.....

 

[MrJLR]

Yup, well, that should do it.
Good a method as any, I suppose
I've tried a few other methods.
Be careful on the welding! That you only weld what you want to weld.....

Absolutely! Don't want to weld it to my LCA! Just the bushing!

 

[mguner]

1/2" or 9/16" flat washers do the trick and leave a little more room to catch the sleeve. Then I use a 9/16 deep impact socket with 3" extension to press them out.

 

[MrJLR]

1/2" or 9/16" flat washers do the trick and leave a little more room to catch the sleeve. Then I use a 9/16 deep impact socket with 3" extension to press them out.

Ya....my washers are a little bit over-kill!

 

[mguner]

Ya....my washers are a little bit over-kill!

But re-useable too! The regular flat washers tend to cave in a little which may actually aid in removal though.

 

[Bad Sport]

I just checked in on the threadthread, I thought you had it all done.

 

[MrJLR]

I just checked in on the threadthread, I thought you had it all done.

Lol....I have 2 speeds...slow and slower!

 

[MrJLR]

Here's another tip; Install the BJ first.
If you wreck the UCA by cross-threading the BJ into it, or the threads just won't hang on to the new BJ, then you won't have to press the bushings out again to install them into a different UCA.

Upper ball joint installed real nice last night....brought the UCA to work today and I'll press in the bushings - I printed out the picture to be sure I set the arrows the correct direction

I should have both control arms done today and ready for reassembly Friday!

Jeff

 

[MrJLR]

Got my upper and lower control arm bushings all installed!
Woohoo!