front suspension rebuild update

Keven · #1 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 08:37 AM

Well, its taken over a month, but progress is being made. I tore both driver and passenger side suspensions completely appart. Started cleaning all the grease off at home, but found that this is waaay to tedious, and messy. So I dropped the rest of the parts off at the machine shop to be dipped. Turned out great!!

I replaced all bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints, etc, etc. I painted all the parts with a rust killer, then shot them with Rustoleum. Turned out really nice.

I also de-greased the wheel wells and pressure washed them to remove any loose undercoating, then resprayed them with Bondo brand rubber undercoat paint, this also turned out really nice.

Here's a question, I got the new lower A-arm bushings that are pressed in, and they came with foam washers. I assume that they go on the inside part of the A-arm? The old ones didnt have these. You can see them in the pictures. Did I install these correctly?

Keven · #2 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 08:38 AM

Here's another shot of the assembled front suspension

Keven · #3 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 08:40 AM

Here's a shot of the cleaned wheel well, havent taken a pic of it painted yet.

**papajam** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 10:26 AM

Now THERE'S a true Alfista!! Suspension on the carpet!

The felt washers look OK to me. I'll check the parts book to be sure.

Keven · #5 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 10:43 AM

Thanks Jim, let me know if the felt washers are installed correct.

Took the pic when the wife was out shopping. Luckily the parts are really clean, and the carpet is a cheepo Ikea

Wife's talking about an antique Afgan rug in the future, so I guess my Alfa parts on the rug days are numbered.

Keven · #6 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 10:46 AM

Oh,
Here's is my bushing press at home

**Roadtrip** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 01:29 PM

Wow, that's not a picture that I'd post on the internet. If my wife saw a picture of my front suspension on her Turkish carpets, she'd be posting another picture of my bloodied blugeoned head on it.

**papajam** · #8 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 05:48 PM

Believe it or not, neither the 1750 or 2000 parts books show the felt washers. Perhaps they were a production revision that are in a later parts book. Anyway, I looked at the arms I have in storage and the felt washers are also on the inside as well.

Btw, nice press!

Keven · #9 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 07:49 AM

Jim,

Thanks for checking this out for me.
It seems weird that there is no provision for lubricating these bushings. The PO added zerks to the arms, and drilled thru the bushing. I dont think this worked very well, as all the grease I removed from the cups was severely contaminated. Im pretty hesitant to drill thru my new bushings. Are these bushings so tough that they never require lube?

**papajam** · #10 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 06:18 PM

I suspect that the felt washers were added to replacement bushings as a means to prevent road grime from entering the bushing resulting in premature failure. I don't think that greasing them is required. However, some owners have installed zerks in the dust caps with fairly good results. Unless someone knows something I don't, I most certainly would NOT drill the control arm and bushings to add zerks. I'd rather just replace the bushings every 10 or 20 years.

Keven · #11 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 07:42 AM

Jim,
I was thinking of adding zerks to the dusts caps, this would force the grease between the bushing and arm and out the back to the foam washer. The only fear I have is that the force of the grease gun would pop off the cap each time you do it. I do have a few spare caps, so I may try it out, and let you all know how it works out.

BTW, dont know if these bushings really hold up for 10-20yrs, mine looked like they needed replacing many years ago, lots of corrosion, and even one failed bushing with the rubber flopping about.

turbolarespider · #12 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 08:07 AM

Kevin
When I rebuilt my front suspension 4 years ago, they, too had the grease fittings. And the bushings were scary bad.

My mechanic had seen this before, and he seemed to think that the grease was bad for the bushing... Can't confirm that, but I left the fitting, but did not drill the new bushing.

After 4 years of abuse, they still seem to be in good condition. Lots of autocrosses and track days, added to the terrible roads we have here in SE Michigan.

Eric

kiwi-kid · #13 (**permalink**) 10-26-2003, 01:38 AM

Hi Kevin,
I have recently replaced has these bushes with the oe parts, (the foam was also placed on the inside).

There is a crowd here in NZ that makes polyurethane bushes, to replace the oe, has anyone tried them?

Ian
1968 - 1750 GTV