TA_Freak

Here are the front end alignment specs:
Anything off?

Left:
Camber: 0.00
Caster:5.9
Toe: -0.01

Right:
Camber: .3
Caster:5.1
Toe: -0.02

Caster appears to be a bit out of range on the L. And I'm not sure about the toe in.

Coppertone

What press are you guys using for these installs?

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

My friend and I actually used the big ball joint press from Autozone.

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

I use an OTC (Owantona Tool Company) ball joint press, that I bought about 30 years ago....

chevybayboy

iTrader: (6)

OK I'm about to do my upper control arm bushings how do you get the bolt out without hitting the side firewall? And do they have to be pressed in or just pushed in?

TA_Freak

Remove the whole shock/spring assembly, then remove the A-arm. You have to press them in.

chevybayboy

iTrader: (6)

OK thanks

silversweetZ

iTrader: (11)

How far do you press in the lower bushings? Do they go until they stop? I can't find any info on this! I'm using Moog bushings.

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

There's a bit of a "flange" or "ridge" around the body of the ball joint. You press in the b/j until this flange seats on the body of the a-arm. It sometimes helps if you can put the b/j in a freezer for a couple of hours, to "shrink" it a little before you press it in.

silversweetZ

iTrader: (11)

Thanks for the reply leadfoot but l'm talking about the control arm bushings, not the ball joints. I rented a ball joint installer from autozone, went pretty well. I'll take pics tomorrow. Thanks!

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

I looked at the position of the old bushings before removing them, then pressed in the new to match. IIRC they were close to seating the flange, but not quite, like maybe 1/16" away.

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

OOPS!!


The flange of the bushing should be flush with the surface of the a-arms, while the front and rear "ears" of the arm, where they contact the outer shell of the bushing, should be parallel to each other.

fasteddy

The suspension rubber on my 02 is either cracked or torn so I'm going to replace all of it......

Aren't there a few other bushings in the rear on those horizontal members right behind the diff? Not the sway bar but the ones that form a triangle.

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

You mean the panhard bar? Yes, that has rubber bushings also.

fasteddy

Yes I think so.....can't find the bushing for that though.....maybe its called something else.

Here's the list of what I got including the front strut mounts....cuz mine are thrashed. Please let me know if there is something else that should be on this list.

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

It appears the screenshot you posted shows the front suspension parts, not the rear. You might want to look up the rear suspension section....However, as I type this, I'm thinking that Moog does not sell the PHB bushing separately, as I believe it is molded into the PHB. My suggestion would be an Energy Suspension polyurethane replacement bushing, or a stronger, aftermarket PHB with a poly bushing already installed.

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

This.

I suppose a PHB with a bushing that allows for deflection would probably be better than straight poly (there is a slight secondary movement on the PHB) but it seems minimal. I got my Founders on-car adjustable PHB for under $100. My stock PHB bushings were really dry and cracked.

fasteddy

I disassembled the front today.....not too bad...about 1.5 hours per side.

I can't believe how degenerated some of the bushings were....all were dry and cracked but some you could see through......and this is a 2002 CA car.

Arms are off to get get prepped and painted....haven't decided what color yet or paint v powdercoat.....concerned about chipping the powdercoat when they press the bushings in......we'll see.

I'll post a PIC when its done.

trans_am7935

iTrader: (15)

I got the big ball joint press from autozone as well, where exactly do you press these in? there is only a small lip for the outside of the horizontal bushings, and i can only press the actual rubber, i feel like i am doing something wrong here. Also on the pivot bushing, there is 2 "openings" or "slots" in the bushings, does it matter which way these face? Do they have to face parallel with the control arm, or front to back in relation to the car?

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

I pressed on that lip. One of the pieces worked for that.

I don't remember the orientation on the caster bushing, just put the new one in the same way the old one came out.