Originally posted by bbmuscle:
Thanks for the input!!
I think I will definately go with the polygraphite bushings. I've never done a front end kit before and just wondering how much of a pain in the a** it is, like is it a weekend project or longer than a weekender?
It depends on what kind of experience with working on things you have. Just keep in mind that you are dealing with a compressed spring that is under a lot of pressure so take special care with regards to safety. If you do one side, the second will take you half the time and effort.
If you are doing new bushings, I would recommend doing the whole front end, I mean, you already have it torn apart you might as well do it right.
If they aren’t already new, get new ball joints, tie rod ends, an idler arm and cross link. It will cost a little but far less than you will pay to have a front end shop do it. You don’t have to buy it all at once but you will be much happier with the finished product.
Get some jack stands and support the front of the car. I never used a pickle fork my self because I never had much luck with them. If you do use one, I don’t think there is a way to do it with out destroying the grease boot. With the car on jack stands, and the wheels off, put the floor jack just under the bottom ball joint with about ¼” gap. I use a 4X rivet gun to bust the taper on the ball joints. I have also used a hammer but you will have to replace the ball joints if you do it this way. Hit/hammer or impact gun the stud on the lower ball joint with the nut backed off just enough to see a bit of a gap between the nut and the spindle. When it brakes loose, you will get an idea of how much pressure you are dealing with. Now do the same thing on the top ball joint. Now you will have the upper and lower ball joint broke loose. Raise the floor jack enough to take the pressure off the upper ball joint and undo the upper ball joint. Did I already tell you to have the shock out? Now that you do, you can remove the spindle from the lower ball joint. It is up to you whether you want to undo the brake line or tie up the brake assembly. Have the floor jack handle pointing in front of the car, lower the jack and be careful because the spring could fly out to the side wile you are lowering the lower A arm. Once you have the spring in your hand it is as simple as removing the A arm pivot bolts and removing the bushings. You can use a bench vise and different size sockets to press out the old bushings. Just make sure you put a block of wood in the channel of the A arm so you don’t crush it when you press the new bushings in. Reverse the procedure to put everything back together.
Will
I have been thinking about the sets they sell on the back of chevy high performance...any suggestions.
