[r-mm]

Hi all,

I'm about to dive into a complete f/r suspension rebuild on my 73 GTV. I have a huge box of parts ready to go, but nothing in the way of a press or even a vice. I'm wondering what my best bet is? It seems like it makes sense to plan for the worse case bushings... ie buy a press with enough capacity, or take the pieces to a shop and have them all pressed in. I'm open to either. Got a HF coupon for 20% handy...

What worked for you?

Any other unusual tools I might need besides a pitman arm separator?

 

[r-mm]

Lokki - thanks I think we are in the same place indeed. I actually bought all the suspension pieces a la carte from IAP when they had a big maybe 20% sale for purchases over 500 bucks.

Good points about needing sockets, etc of the correct diameter. I'm not so sure I will need a press again.

Did you take the parts to a general service mechanic or a machine shop? I am curious to hear what they charged.

Thanks

 

[r-mm]

Lokki - one more for you

What ball joint splitter did you use and does one tool work for the tie rods and suspension? I loaned a pickle fork style splitter from autozone but with no air hammer, its not doing much of anything on the tie rod ends.

 

[r-mm]

so far i've done every last thing on my car except resurface the flywheel and r/r the valve guides. so i'm inclined to do stuff myself but wondering what the hell i'm going to do with a hydraulic press when I move. but in all likelihood, when i get a quote from a shop that will likely exceed the cost of the press, i'll probably just up and buy it. actually as I wrote his I decided to just go ahead and buy this guy. 6 Ton Shop Press
after all i've never regretted buying tools...

Thinking that once the suspension is "done" you won't use a press again is kind of like thinking that once you fix something on an Alfa you won't need to fix anything again... no disrespect to earlier posts intended. I bought a 12 ton press about five years ago and while I don't use it every week or even every month it has paid for itself several times over. If you are not inclined to do as much work as possible on your car, then by all means, take your suspension parts to a machine shop and save a $150 and the garage space a press will occupy.

 

[r-mm]

maybe its early but i can't quite fathom how that works!?

This the picture you refer to?
This thread is where it came from.

 

[r-mm]

Well I got my harbor freight 6 ton shop press (not the a frame one, the one with a deeper working height) and it worked like a charm! The adjustable arbors were very useful. I've only pressed out the lower a arm bearings, but all 4 came out no prob.

 

[r-mm]

Yeah, that's the same one I bought. The a-frame one just doesn't have enough working distance...the bigger one is more useful.

Those 20%-off coupons are like crack.

i know. maybe all this hf stuff is going to fall apart in a year, but so far i'm totally into it. engine stand, engine crane, electric impact wrench, hydraulic press: all highly recommended.