I'm gearing up to completely rebuild the front suspension on my new 73 over the winter.

The A arms and ball joints look to be OK, but I figure that I might as well do it all while I am there.

I am planning on putting new front springs and a new front and rear sway bar while I am at it.

There are a bunch of companies selling the front kits, I think that I am going to go with poly rather than rubber, but I really have no reason for it. I just figure, do it once and do it right.

Any comments on the companies?

Vette brakes and products, PST, Corvette central, Ecklers (I think that they sell VBP)

Any others? The deluxe kits all seem about the same, but are any more complete or better? Will I need to buy anything else?

Thanks for the assistance.

 

Sorry, no comments that will be helpful to you, but Good Luck & I look forward to your post about finishing the job (especially if it includes lots of pics -- I hope to do a front end rebuild to mine soon).

 

Mike,

I was "shopping" for a front end kit one of these days, and pricewise the best option I found was the one from Zip. If I remember correctly, Muskegon Brake had also a good deal.

Are you going to replace/rebuild the calipers too?

-Pedro


[Modified by Pedro'74, 10:35 PM 10/28/2001]

 

Yep -- get the deluxe rebuild kit from Zip. And make sure to buy it through the "Restoration Store" above, you get a 5% discount that way.

I did the rebuild back in July and used the Zip deluxe rebuild kit with the poly bushings. The bushings were Energy Suspension parts and everything was complete. Good price at under $200 and it includes the idler arm --- important item.

For springs I would go with the 550lb front springs from Vette Brakes. If you live in a pot hole infested area stay away from the 550's and get the 460's instead.

 

VB 460's are the ones I'm planning to get. I live in Pothole Paradise, and have a 9-leaf rear spring, so I don't think the 550's would be a good idea.

-Pedro

 

Thanks for the advice.

I'll look into the kit from Zip. Do I need anything else if I want to overhaul the steering?

I don't think I need to do new calipers, the former owner put on SS calipers.

I do need to take the line lock off and bleed and flush them though.

Mike

 

What is the difference between the VBP deluxe kit and the Zip deluxe kit... besided $70?

 

Tie rod sleeves? But I believe Zip's kit would still be cheaper, even if you buy the sleeves separately.

-Pedro

 

I bought all my parts locally and the tie rod sleeves were about $25ea. while you have everything riped apart, I'd get new rotors, pads, wheel bearings, shocks and sway bar bushings.

My parts list was:
ball joints--$125
tie rod ends--$100
coil springs--$48
idler arm---$38
shocks---$60
control arm bushings(Energy)---$70
rotors----$80
wheel bearings---$30
sway bar bushings---$20
organic brake pads---$19
for a grand total of $590----I did all the work myself.

 

[QUOTE]while you have everything riped apart, I'd get new rotors, pads, wheel bearings, shocks and sway bar bushings.
QUOTE]

I agree. I will definitely be doing the wheel bearings and shocks. I will also put new springs on as well as a new front and rear sway bar. I am going to wait on the rotors until I see them. It is unclear to me, with everything on the car, when they were replaced and how they look right now.

I'll make that decision when I get there.

Thanks for the advice. So you all recommend that I get the Zip kit and the tie rod sleeves?

 

The only frontend hard parts I would use is Moog, including the Moog heavy duty idler arm. I heard from a good source that not even a TRW idler arm is as good as the Moog. Too much darn work to not put in the best parts you can buy. I went with 550# front coils, one inch lower, from Vette Brakes and matched this to a 360# fiber spring in the rear. I agree with the above comment about going with 460# coils if you drive on rough roads.

Roger

 

Roger, where would I find Moog dealers?

I can't get to a section on the federal mogul website that will direct me.

 

Here's what I did. I'm happy with it. Might have saved a buck or two by shopping around, I don't know. I bought a kit from VetteBrakes, what they call their "super front end kit", for $339.
Kit contains:
ball joints
tie rod ends
tie rod sleeves
heavy duty idler arm
poly control arm bushings
grease nipple covers
offset upper control arm shafts
travel limiters
sway bar end links with poly bushings
poly sway bar bushings with shells
poly ball joint boots
poly tie rod end boots
poly shock mount bushings

Also ordered from VB:
front springs (460#)
rear composite spring kit with poly bushings (330#)
rear sway bar with poly bushings (3/4")
Bilstein shocks
"Smart Struts" with poly bushings

Ordered from Van Steel:
trailing arm assemblies with poly bushings, SS shim kit, SS park brake and new rotors.

Seems like I spent about $2800 before it was all done, including shipping (that's heavy stuff!) and some shop charges for bead blasting the A-arms prior to painting, 6 U-joints, plus some paint, grease, a few new fasteners, front spindle grease seals, brake fluid, and whatnot. Beer not included. :D

Get some extra lube for the poly bushings. The little tubes they throw in the boxes are not enough. Look for Tef-Cone (teflon silicone) or some similar silicone-based lube from the local auto parts store.

Good luck! You won't believe what your '73 will drive like (or how it can handle) when you've got all those new parts on! :cool:

:seeya

 

Regarding Springs-----
A few years ago I replaced my sagging front springs with GM F41 springs.
# 3832518, parts book says fits '63-'71.
These springs were about 2" shorter than the old ones, however they raised the front back up to original height. Not a harsh ride either.

And the bonus in using these springs was "no compressor" needed to install.
They were short enough to simply set in place by hand and then jack up the lower control arm.