Front suspension rebuild kit!

Finally bit the bullet and ordered the Willcox front end rebuild kit (US made ) so I've got my work cut out for me now.

I would not have done it without all of the help and info on this site. Actually I'm not too intimidated for the most part, just the springs... Sounds like some people use the 'jack' method and some use the spring compressor method. But I'm looking forward to next spring when she rides and steers tighter. I'll try to post some progress pics and updates.

Jim

 

I just redid mine about 6 months ago with a kit from them. You should be happy with it. They are great for support and advice if you need any. I went so far as to remove the a-arms and had the bushings replaced. I took mine to the local chey dealership for that part. I recommend you check your rag joint and replace it at the same time if it is worn out it will immensly improve steering also. I have a bunch of pictures from doing mine and will give you any advice you want from what I went through doing my 77.

Good luck!!!

 

 

Willcox has a good article on compressing the springs on their website. Congratulations and enjoy that new found feel to the road.

 

yeah, I saw that. It's like a homemade one with a threaded rod and a piece of 3/8 plate. Sounds like a good idea, I can get that.

 

The compressor in that article is mainly used when assembling a frame with no engine or body. You have no weight to use to your advantage when you do a frame this way.

If you have these things intact then the easiest way is to jack the car up by the A-Arm and then loosen the ball joint nuts (upper and lower) just a tad. With the car jacked up by the arm whack the knuckle next to each joint with a hammer and the joint will pop loose.

Do both the upper and lower and then remove the nuts and lower the a-arm. The weight of the car will allow for this and make the job much easier.

Thank you both for the orders.. Happy Holiday's

Willcox

 

ok, that's what I did (the jack method). It was actually very easy. I was a little intimidated at first though. I wrapped a tow chain around the spring to the lower control arm a couple times. The only thing I didn't do was loosen the lower ball joint. So I had to bang on it witha pickle fork, but it came off.

I'll post some pictures later or tomorrow. Photobucket seems to be down right now...

So far things are coming apart VERY easily. I guess a little (or a lot) of leaking oil from whereever, helps keep things lubed up. All of the ball joint nuts, calipers came off easily! ... almost too easy. I was ready to crank on them with the long breaker bar but it ditn't require much effort. Even the nuts that hold the control arms to the cross member weren't tough.

I've got both A arms off from the left side now. One thing that I did take note of was the spring. I seem to remember people saying that the tighter coils are supposed to go at the top. Well these were at the bottom. And as soon as photo bucket is back up, I'll post a pic.

Here is the spring:


Here are the arms:


The lower bushings are a little torn up:


The uppers aren't too bad at all:


and here is the work area...


Anyways, so far so good...

Jim

 

Well last night, I got the bushings out of the upper arm. Not too bad a job with the air chisel. That thing just paid for itself. Managed not to carve up the arm. The lower is going to be a little more difficult, I think. Not coming out as easy. I have one started.







the magic tool:



I don't know why it keeps attaching extra images...

 

I just finished tearing my frame down to send out to the blaster and have it powder coated, I'm sending the a-arms along with few other parts too.

I found that in addition to the air chisel, soak the areas down with PB-blaster and let it sit for about an hour, that stuff is worth it's weight in gold. then using the air chisel for a source of vibration, work on the bushing where it's pressed into the arm, the combination of PB Blaster and vibration will liquify the rust and corrosion, the bushing came out pretty easy after that.

 

Finally got back to this project. Had to take a week or so to fix my son's car (he ran into a snow drift , crushed the rad.. fixed that, had to replace a wheel bearing, then the wheel fell of.. lower ball joint let go... fixed that! )

Anyways, back to the Vette. Started on the right side last night and got both arms out with no problems. Here are some pics:

Here's a before pic:


Here I have the jack under the lower arm:






And here we are after the jack is let down:




and spring is out! Had to kick it around a bit to get it out of the pocket. Note orientation of 'tighter' coils.

 

Removing the upper A arm on the right side was not bad except for the front bolt which is very close to the radiator shroud. I got the nut off ok, but could not pound on the stud to get it out. So I drilled a hole in the shroud and stuck a drift in there and hit it. Came right out. I even tried turning it from the back before I did that but no luck. Anyways... a little bubba I guess.




Drilling the hole:


Punching out the stud:



...and the arm is out:

 

The lower arm comes out easy.

Here I wanted to make note of the angle/ orientation of the arm to the mounting shaft. I don't know if this matters or not when you reinstall the bushings, but I thought I'd take a picture of it.

 

You're making good progress, I just got my parts back from the coater yesterday, started putting things back together this morning using the suspension kit from wilcox. I put the bushings in myself fairly easily. didn't even need a press do to them. here's a tip if you want to do them yourself.

put the new bushings in the freezer for a day or two (causing the metal to shrink)

get everything cleaned up good and ready to go back together, then using a heat gun get the control arm bushing area good and hot (may take a while with the heat gun), then quickly grab the bushing out of the freezer and put it in the arm, you will have to work quickly before the two metals equalize in temperature, the bigger the difference in temp. the easier they go together. you will probably have to help it slide in with a hammer and large socket but you don't have to beat on it,but you will need to help it along some with the hammer.

I used a socket large enough to fit over the rubber end of the bushing and still sit on the metal lip of the bushing.

 

I just did this last week, and I cleaned the shafts on a wire wheel before putting the new bushings in. once everything was together I can turn the shafts by hand with a little effort. they will tighten up once I torque down the shaft bolts when everything is installed and the car is back on the ground.

I bought the same kit from Willcox. I got my control arms out with the radiator and shroud still in the car, but ended up taking it out anyways to install an electric fan.

 

I didn't need to heat anything up or put anything in the freezer. I just used a hammer, a 34mm axle nut socket and a vice to get the new bushings in. Piece of cake. I used an air hammer to remove everything also. for all the horror stories I hear about doing this job, I actually found it to be enjoyable.

 

Quick update on the front suspension rebuild with some pictures...

Got all the control arms in. Go to reinstall the springs and man, do they look crappy against the repainted arms! So 'while I'm at it' , I repaint them. I think I'll be glad I did. I didn't do a super job, just rubbed them down with some scotch brite and then solvent. Then sprayed them with Rust Oleum gloss black.

First spring went in fine. Used the jack method - had to also employ another jack directly under the lower ball joint to get it all the up into the upper ball joint threads. Man it's great when that is done! Time for a beer!

First spring in. Sorry for the crappy picture. The dam blackberry takes crappy pics...


And here are the two warming up in front of the fire haha


That's it for now.

 

It should ride real nice. Good work!

 

looks good. I'm still waiting for some warm weather so I can paint everything and get it back in the car.