I'm rebuilding the front suspension on my '78 and already have all the parts (bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, shocks, and springs) and am calling around to get labor prices to put it all in (don't think I could do this by myself, at least not very well). I was wondering what some of you guys have paid to get this stuff installed. I'm getting quotes ranging from $400 to $800. Thanks.

 

Well, I guess it really depends on what you want the shop to do "while they're in there". Do you want your a-arms, sway bar, spindles, etc. sandblasted and repainted? What about the front frame? If all you want is a simple rebuild without any cosmetic restoration, then I'd say that $600 is a good ballpark figure. It's very labor intensive to R&R all the front suspension components.

If you want stuff restored while it's out of the car, then probably add 50% or more to the price.

 

I am not a mechanic and I did mine myself (with help from the forum of course)
IMHO anyone can tackle this job.
Go for it and save a few bux :thumbs:

 

I'm right in the middle of it. With a little help and $20 worth of tools, you can get it all out.
My Aarms are currently at the shop having the bushings pressed out.
It's $60/hour at the shop for press work. Damn - they had a 15% off special
last month. Not quick enough.

I'm getting the parts back disassembled for clean/paint. I might try pressing
them back together myself (friend has hydraulic press) - or I might pay the
$60/hour again. Other than the bushing press work - everything is wrenching
and cleaning. Oh - you may need a grinder and propane torch to get the ball
joints off the Aarms. This is a minor job that could be farmed out with the
bushing presswork.

I choose to do it myself for $aving$ - but it takes longer. I just can't bring myself to pay someone hundred$ for wrenching.


:seeya

 

I did the complete front end on my daughters Gran Prix, took the a arms in and had the bushings pressed in and out.

Steve :steering:

 

If you have poly bushings and your shells are OK you can drill out the old rubber busings and slide in the new poly ones, or at least that hs been posted several times. I will go that route.

 

I'll try not to rain on anyone's parade - but I tried 'hogging out' the rubber
to retrofit the poly bushings in the old shells. On one of the uppers, the rubber
was shot and falling out with a twist. With the rubber gone, the dog-bone fell
right out of the two outer shells. The inner shells were fused to the shaft with
rust. A hammer, screwdriver and visegrips got those off, but they need
serious wirebrushing to clean up. It took lots of work to get the rubber
removed from the second upper arm. On this one, there wasn't quite enough
room to get the shaft removed for cleanup. I didn't even attempt the lowers.

Interesting idea - using a drill. I guess I missed that in earlier posts. I pried
out chunks with a small screwdriver. I guess an 1/8" drill bit might make less
work of it. Give it a shot - but I suspect most people will pay the press guy.

I decided to bite the bullet - and actually PAY someone to do some press work.
They charge hourly, so I may pay a bit more, but I am getting them back
disassembled for a thorough cleaning/POR15.
:seeya

EDIT: I will be picking up my Aarms tonight - stay tuned for presswrok costs.

[Modified by NHvette, 3:30 PM 7/8/2003]


[Modified by NHvette, 3:44 PM 7/8/2003]

 

NHvette is right on the money. Everything was pretty simple except pressing the bushings. Luckily my office is next to our machine shop and I got a couple of guys to help me with it. That took twice as long as everything else. :rofl:

 

I just did mine and it was not to hard. I took the a-arms to have them do the bushings(96.00), they pressed out, then I cleaned and painted them, then they pressed the bushings in.
Everything else is fairly straight forward. Disassemble, clean, paint, put together, and install in car.
:seeya