Front end suspension rebuild clarification
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Longview Texas
Front end suspension rebuild clarification
OK, I do not know much about cars except how to drive them extremely well.
I too my 1980 corvette to two different mechanics and got the same answers about problems with the car but only going to tackle them one at a time.
The top of the list since it has to do with safety is my front end.
I was told that I need a COMPLETE new suspension for the car. To include the front shocks (?).
Now It has been sitting for a while and it is very rusted over and I can tell just by driving it there are issues.
What is a COMPLETE front end suspension rebuild? I was looking at places to buy kits, but Im confused.
There are several different levels of its. If Im going to do it, I am going to do it right the first time and do it all.
Can someone point me in the right direction of what I need to include all the items for a complete rebuild kit? I want to make a one time purchase for everything to include the power steering pump that is leaking.
Also the power steering ram is leaking and needs to be replaced.
SO yes, its going to be a big ticket item for me.
But I just need to know what I need.
Sorry if the message is vague and full of holes. Im not to mechanically inclined so I am probably talking in circles.
Thank you all in advance for any information.
John
I too my 1980 corvette to two different mechanics and got the same answers about problems with the car but only going to tackle them one at a time.
The top of the list since it has to do with safety is my front end.
I was told that I need a COMPLETE new suspension for the car. To include the front shocks (?).
Now It has been sitting for a while and it is very rusted over and I can tell just by driving it there are issues.
What is a COMPLETE front end suspension rebuild? I was looking at places to buy kits, but Im confused.
There are several different levels of its. If Im going to do it, I am going to do it right the first time and do it all.
Can someone point me in the right direction of what I need to include all the items for a complete rebuild kit? I want to make a one time purchase for everything to include the power steering pump that is leaking.
Also the power steering ram is leaking and needs to be replaced.
SO yes, its going to be a big ticket item for me.
But I just need to know what I need.
Sorry if the message is vague and full of holes. Im not to mechanically inclined so I am probably talking in circles.
Thank you all in advance for any information.
John
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Longview Texas
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
Upper and lower ball joints
steering ram rebuild
new tie rod ends
shocks
steering box rebuild
alignment
these are normal rebuild items
you can find parts for these from Wilcox corvette parts
there is not really a complete kit it all depends on what exactly you need
Hope this helps
Wes
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Longview Texas
Kinda depends on what your mechanics call a complete re build ?
Upper and lower ball joints
steering ram rebuild
new tie rod ends
shocks
steering box rebuild
alignment
these are normal rebuild items
you can find parts for these from Wilcox corvette parts
there is not really a complete kit it all depends on what exactly you need
Hope this helps
Wes
Upper and lower ball joints
steering ram rebuild
new tie rod ends
shocks
steering box rebuild
alignment
these are normal rebuild items
you can find parts for these from Wilcox corvette parts
there is not really a complete kit it all depends on what exactly you need
Hope this helps
Wes
yes it does thank you very much.
They did state the above is needed. So I guess I will keep compiling a list and checking it twice.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
The only difficult part is ball joints and control arm bushings the rest is not hard check local parts sore they will have power steering pump and possibly steering ram
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
MOOG is the brand of the parts. The good ones. Be careful of parts in MOOG boxes- there are several threads about guys buying what they "Thought" was MOOG only to find Chinese parts in MOOG boxes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 273
From: Dunedin NZ.
OK, I do not know much about cars except how to drive them extremely well.
I too my 1980 corvette to two different mechanics and got the same answers about problems with the car but only going to tackle them one at a time.
The top of the list since it has to do with safety is my front end.
I was told that I need a COMPLETE new suspension for the car. To include the front shocks (?).
Now It has been sitting for a while and it is very rusted over and I can tell just by driving it there are issues.
What is a COMPLETE front end suspension rebuild? I was looking at places to buy kits, but Im confused.
There are several different levels of its. If Im going to do it, I am going to do it right the first time and do it all.
Can someone point me in the right direction of what I need to include all the items for a complete rebuild kit? I want to make a one time purchase for everything to include the power steering pump that is leaking.
Also the power steering ram is leaking and needs to be replaced.
SO yes, its going to be a big ticket item for me.
But I just need to know what I need.
Sorry if the message is vague and full of holes. Im not to mechanically inclined so I am probably talking in circles.
Thank you all in advance for any information.
John
I too my 1980 corvette to two different mechanics and got the same answers about problems with the car but only going to tackle them one at a time.
The top of the list since it has to do with safety is my front end.
I was told that I need a COMPLETE new suspension for the car. To include the front shocks (?).
Now It has been sitting for a while and it is very rusted over and I can tell just by driving it there are issues.
What is a COMPLETE front end suspension rebuild? I was looking at places to buy kits, but Im confused.
There are several different levels of its. If Im going to do it, I am going to do it right the first time and do it all.
Can someone point me in the right direction of what I need to include all the items for a complete rebuild kit? I want to make a one time purchase for everything to include the power steering pump that is leaking.
Also the power steering ram is leaking and needs to be replaced.
SO yes, its going to be a big ticket item for me.
But I just need to know what I need.
Sorry if the message is vague and full of holes. Im not to mechanically inclined so I am probably talking in circles.
Thank you all in advance for any information.
John
Last edited by Haggisbash; Jun 22, 2015 at 01:15 AM.
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Hey Top,
Did this last year, used a floor jack to take pressure off the front springs to get them out. Had a shop replace the front control arm bushings to minimize the chance of bending the tabs. I drilled the rivets out of the upper ball joints and bolted the new ones in using grade 8 bolts. Only took a couple of hours to take the entire front end apart and a day to get it all back together. If you measure the exposed threads of front tie rod ends that should get you close on the alignment, at least close enough to get it to an alignment shop. Best advice buy MOOG
Ron
Did this last year, used a floor jack to take pressure off the front springs to get them out. Had a shop replace the front control arm bushings to minimize the chance of bending the tabs. I drilled the rivets out of the upper ball joints and bolted the new ones in using grade 8 bolts. Only took a couple of hours to take the entire front end apart and a day to get it all back together. If you measure the exposed threads of front tie rod ends that should get you close on the alignment, at least close enough to get it to an alignment shop. Best advice buy MOOG
Ron
Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 508
Likes: 59
From: Oscoda Michigan
Make friends in your local Corvette community. A shop that does not understand Corvettes is worse than no shop at all. You may be surprised at how much help you get from a real Corvette nut, heck if you were closer I would help you do it.. Good luck with your project. Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Moog suspension parts are easy to find at Rockauto. Plus the price is good. For bearings use Timken and if you need seals SKF. Most of the kits from a vette vendor will not contain the name brands mentioned. If you go a vette vendor route make sure to ask who made the parts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
As Haggisbash posted Willcox uses quality parts but ask them what it ships with.
I believe they are Moog except for the uppers because they look like the originals.
It's not hard to do but is time consuming. Find a Corvette repair shop by you that can rebuild your control arms or do the exchange and swap from Van Steel.
Besides getting the spring out the next hardest part is getting the upper control arm out with the radiator shroud installed. At least on a BBC is a pain.
I believe they are Moog except for the uppers because they look like the originals.
It's not hard to do but is time consuming. Find a Corvette repair shop by you that can rebuild your control arms or do the exchange and swap from Van Steel.
Besides getting the spring out the next hardest part is getting the upper control arm out with the radiator shroud installed. At least on a BBC is a pain.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Be careful with RockAuto. Half the stuff I've gotten from them was either boxed wrong or previously installed. I used to write on the boxes that the part was "used" and now they changed their policy and won't give you credit if you write on the box. Hmmmm. Just a heads up.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Longview Texas
Thank you all for the great information. I did make some calls and I found a real old car nut....I personally think he may be a bit off his rocker, but hey....he was fun to talk to.
He is going to look over my car next week and give his break down of it for free.
He has already done 4 corvettes this year and is doing a few older mustangs.
He contacted the vette owners for me and a few called and said they would use him again and he was very inexpensive compared to others around.
He does use the MOOG parts and he makes sure they are new. He claims he can get them "at cost"
Now the conversation he had with me off th etop of his head said about $1500 to rebuild the front with parts included.
I do not have the knowledge to do something this extensive just yet. I just ran the vacuum lines for the headlights and it did a number on me...lol
Than you all again for the information. I will keep you all informed of what the look forward may be.
Have a great week everyone
He is going to look over my car next week and give his break down of it for free.
He has already done 4 corvettes this year and is doing a few older mustangs.
He contacted the vette owners for me and a few called and said they would use him again and he was very inexpensive compared to others around.
He does use the MOOG parts and he makes sure they are new. He claims he can get them "at cost"
Now the conversation he had with me off th etop of his head said about $1500 to rebuild the front with parts included.
I do not have the knowledge to do something this extensive just yet. I just ran the vacuum lines for the headlights and it did a number on me...lol
Than you all again for the information. I will keep you all informed of what the look forward may be.
Have a great week everyone
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,234
Likes: 1,672
From: Long Island
I just finished my 71. Did a complete front end rebuild. I had a local shop
The springs are easy if you loosen the bottom shock bolts, remove the top bolts and separate the ball joint with a floor jack under the lower a arm. Then remove the shock and pull out the spring.
I have an a/c car but went with non a/c springs and love the ride height.
Tag and bag as much as you can.
I went with Borgeson steering and love the feel.
Get a corvette rebuild manual and it will make you endeavor much easier, as does the OEM Build manual.
Clean and paint as much as you can, it will make life easier in the future.
There are also video's on You tube as a reference, some are not as "proper procedure" as others....
"sand blast"
the A arms and power coat them, + install new control are bushings. I supplied him with Moog parts from Rock auto.The springs are easy if you loosen the bottom shock bolts, remove the top bolts and separate the ball joint with a floor jack under the lower a arm. Then remove the shock and pull out the spring.
I have an a/c car but went with non a/c springs and love the ride height.
Tag and bag as much as you can.
I went with Borgeson steering and love the feel.
Get a corvette rebuild manual and it will make you endeavor much easier, as does the OEM Build manual.
Clean and paint as much as you can, it will make life easier in the future.
There are also video's on You tube as a reference, some are not as "proper procedure" as others....