Front suspension bushing replacement

[tverrall]

Time for the next phase of keeping my '86 Spider in good nick.
The front suspension creaks, I suspect that some of the bushing are just about dead. I have been quote $1200 to have them replaced - this is pointing towards the do it yourself mind set. I wonder just how involved is that and what type of tool is required to pull the joints apart. There is a ball-joint and tie rod remover in the IAP catalogue - is this the right tool ?
My plan would be to stick with rubber bushes, but replace the control arms with adjustable control arms.
Any advice on this job would be very welcome.

Tim

[Roadtrip]

If you're not planning on saving the joints, a pickle fork works ok. Although a purpose built tool is better. Drop by your local Checkers or Autozone store. They'll probably have a tool in stock that will do the job.

Refurbing the front suspension isn't terribly difficult, but you do have to use some caution when dealing with the potential energy of the coil spring. A couple of long threaded rods, a floor jack, and some extra weight on the front of the car makes the job easy, if time consuming. R&R'ing the bushings in the lower A-arm assembly takes a pretty stout press, so they may have to go down to your local machine shop for a quick press job. DO NOT try and hammer them in. Those little bas***ds are about $25 each and you don't want to bugger them up. Be sure to check the rest of the steering system closely as well . . . . . all tie rod ends (especially the track rod to steering arm one, it seems to wear first), any looseness in the idle arm assembly, oil in the steering box, and the integrity of the steering box lower oil seal. Also look for any cracking of the bodywork at the steering box attachment area.

[Keven]

Tim,

Im in the process of rebuilding my front suspension. I bought a rebuild kit from Centerline for $425 which included all tie rod ends, bushings, ball joints, etc. The only things I would recommend buying that are not in the kit are:

Spring rubber pads(might as well change em now)
rubber bumpstops (one square, one round, per side)
sway bar bushings
Make sure to get the special washers for the lower A-arm bushings. These lock the nut, and hold the dust cap.
You will need a tie rod puller, IAP has them. Ididnt use one, cause I just cut the bolts to the tie rod ends with a sawsall(since I am installing all new ones)
I replaced all the bolts with new stainless ones, make sure to use 10.9 grade, or at least 8.8's.

I think I have spent about $1000 in parts to do my front suspension, but I have gone really overboard, and bought new spings, shocks, etc, etc.
I think a normal person would spend about $600 when all was sain and done.
As far as time, the job could be done in a weekend, if you elect not to paint everything, this seemed to take the longest amount of time, especially the degreasing. I ended up taking everything to the machine shop to be dipped.

Good luck, here is a link to my front suspension rebuild:

front suspension rebuild update

Restoration has begun!!