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Topic: front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!! (Read 3092 times) previous topic - next topic

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, after four days (well, a few hours each of four days, anyway) I finally got my front suspension finished. New Energy Suspension poly control arm, rack, stabilizer bar bushings & end links; Monroe  struts (well, almost new thanks to Ether947); AC Delco strut mounts, ball joints & tie rod ends; TC stabilizer bar, springs, brakes and spindles... finally finished!

This is the biggest project I've ever done to one of my own cars. The pic below shows it all (except the TC brakes installed, I'm waiting on rotors). When I first started the project it was gonna be all pretty (hence the painted control arm) but by the end of it I was just anxious to get it all together (hence nothing else painted, hence the fact that the pic below doesn't really look like I did much). Of course the fact that I had to strip all the TC parts out of the TC in addition to installing them in this car didn't make the job any easier, but I can say this: I actually did it all without the use of heat. That is almost unheard of on a 19-year-old car in Nova Scotia!

The only bad thing: This is only the beginning. Still gotta do the TC rear/CHE arm/SFC install, then a whole bunch of other stuff (finish the interior, install TC hood, header, bumper & one fender, then prep body for paint, 5-speed install, 351 build up, and so on...). Still, I do love finally getting to do all this stuff after decades of wanting to!

Oh and the AAARRRRGGHH!!!!!!? While installing the rack bushings I noticed some JB weld on the rack body. Stupid me picked it off and found a spot where a rock must have hit the rack and put a small crack in it. When I started the car the thing started leaking fluid. I'll try JB-welding it again, but now I've gotta swap the TC rack in eventually...

The pic (doesn't look impressive but this represents a helluva lotta work!!!):
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #1 –
So you're using the TC springs?
I'm curious, did you measure the gap between tire, and fender before you took it all apart?
I'm thinkin' about using TC springs on mine, that's why I ask?
Lookin' good man...can't wait to see it with the Snowflakes all done up!
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #2 –
I did use the TC springs, and I didn't measure the gap. I was expecting a drop, but when I took the V8 springs out I discovered that both were broken exactly a full coil, so I imagine the TC springs should pretty much hold it at the same height

The car could use a drop anyway - if you look at the "hopping" 'Bird in my sig, the "high" position is actually my car's ride height...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #3 –
looks to be coming along well...........bet you can't wait to get it together and see how it drives

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #4 –
How hard was it to do the ball joints?
That is one thing I've never done to my suspension, and the '86 may need new ball joints.

Lookin' good!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #5 –
Quote from: cougarcragar
How hard was it to do the ball joints?
That is one thing I've never done to my suspension, and the '86 may need new ball joints.

Lookin' good!


Ball joints are easy with the proper tools (either the ball-joint press (on the car), or a std hydraulic press (off the car)).
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon-  '81 Granada GL 2dr

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #6 –
Almost time for the best part, road test :)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Chuck W
Ball joints are easy with the proper tools (either the ball-joint press (on the car), or a std hydraulic press (off the car)).
What he said. I had the arms off the car, so I brought 'em into work and used the press :D
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #8 –
Quote
I brought 'em into work and used the press

Is that how you installed the new bushings into the control arms as well?
-Jim
1987 Cougar LS 5.0

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #9 –
The Energy Suspension bushings didn't come with the metal shells, I had to reuse the old ones, so I didn't press them out at all. I burned the old rubber bushings out with a propane torch (didn't use acetylene as I didn't want them to get too hot), then cleaned up the shells with a wire brush on a drill, greased 'em up, and the new bushings went in easily. I had to tap them in with a block of wood, but only gently.
 
I dunno if any other brand of bushings come with the shells, but ES ones don't...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣
 

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Thunder Chicken
I dunno if any other brand of bushings come with the shells, but ES ones don't...

Nope no Poly replacements do..
 
The Sled has a bad ball joint.  I've always had good luck with the on car ball joint press. 
 
 
Now Carmen, what rack bushings did you order?  For what car?
One 88

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #11 –
I ordered the ones for 85-88 Thunderbirds (actually, the listing said "10/84-88". ES part # E12-410103R. I imagine the "R" means red - I had ordered all the busings in red, but they were out of red and sent me black control arm bushings, stabilizer end links and spring isolators. In fact, the only thing that actually showed up red were the rack bushings and stabilizer bushings.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #12 –
Did you order the bushings from a website or did you get them from a parts store?
-Jim
1987 Cougar LS 5.0

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #13 –
Wanna do mine? ;)
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

front suspension finally finished (pic), and ARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply #14 –
Quote from: CougarSE
Nope no Poly replacements do..
 

ES sells them with shells, as does MM, PST and a few others.
2005 Subaru WRX STi|daily driver