Front End Rebuilt QUESTION
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Front End Rebuilt QUESTION......STARTED THE REBUILT SUNDAY and........
Vetters,
Getting prepared to rebulit front end. Ball joint, bushings, coils shocks etc............
Question, I am limited on garage space. Does anyone see a problem doing one side at a time. I will have to spin the car around to do the other side.
Randy
[Modified by Randy 71, 9:34 PM 3/1/2004]
Getting prepared to rebulit front end. Ball joint, bushings, coils shocks etc............
Question, I am limited on garage space. Does anyone see a problem doing one side at a time. I will have to spin the car around to do the other side.
Randy
[Modified by Randy 71, 9:34 PM 3/1/2004]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 5
From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (Randy 71)
I suggest doing one side at a time. That way, you can use the complete side as a reference, when it comes time to put it all back together. Take your time. This really isn't a bad job, and it's a great learning experience. The biggest pain, is pressing the bushings in and out, without the help of a strong (industrial) press. Be careful not to bend the arms when you're pressing.
Good luck with it.
Good luck with it.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 306
Likes: 1
From: N. Charleston SC
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (Randy 71)
Shoudent be a problem... Just more work to jack the car up.... set up stands... do one side... put it back together.... lower the car... turn it arround... jack it back up... put it on stands... do the othe rside... put it back to gether......
Once you have it up... and start taking stuff appart... there will be more STUFF you'll want to fix or do :yesnod:
Good luck! :thumbs:
Once you have it up... and start taking stuff appart... there will be more STUFF you'll want to fix or do :yesnod:
Good luck! :thumbs:
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 18,478
Likes: 3
From: Quincy IL
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (Randy 71)
i would also recommend just doing one side at a time; as far as pressing the new bushings in and out, I had a local machine shop do mine for about $20 a side back in '96. i rented a spring compressor from Autozone to put in new springs.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 340
Likes: 1
From: St. Clair Shores Michigan
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (Randy 71)
Randy, I'm just finishing up my frontend now. Jack stand clearance depends on where you put them. To bad you can't do both sides at once, gives LOTS of room under there for get at other stuff. I replaced a bunch of gaskets that were long neglected. also did my water pump and new radiator.
I habe a small block so didn't need spring compressor used a floor jack.
do a search in the archives, lars has a step by step paper there.
Good luck :smash:
I habe a small block so didn't need spring compressor used a floor jack.
do a search in the archives, lars has a step by step paper there.
Good luck :smash:
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Blountville TN
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (Randy 71)
Randy,
Did you buy a front end kit to do everything? What kind of money are you planning to spend?
I have seen kits from 250 to 2500, not sure which direction to go. I do no I have alot or work to do on suspension. :nono: :crazy:
Did you buy a front end kit to do everything? What kind of money are you planning to spend?
I have seen kits from 250 to 2500, not sure which direction to go. I do no I have alot or work to do on suspension. :nono: :crazy:
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (butlerm)
Butlerm,
I bought the deluxe front end package $180 I think from ZIPS. Then I bought coils and shocks from Advanced Auto. Both for around $75. Now I just need to get motavated to do it.
I bought the deluxe front end package $180 I think from ZIPS. Then I bought coils and shocks from Advanced Auto. Both for around $75. Now I just need to get motavated to do it.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 384
Likes: 6
From: Brockville Ont
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (Randy 71)
this is what I did, I had an old set of control arms, I refinished them, installed the bushings (A little heat and they fall out) then just re and re them one side at a time, I just used a jack for my big block springs, be careful thats all.
Good luck
:party:
Good luck
:party:
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 599
Likes: 16
From: vista CA
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (Randy 71)
Vetters,
Looks like I will do one side at a time. Will jack stands give me enough clearance to do everything?
Looks like I will do one side at a time. Will jack stands give me enough clearance to do everything?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (martinsw)
I certainly have enough tools in the garage to remove the bushings, air tools cutting wheels etc......
I was thinking about getting a 12 ton press for the garage from Harbor Freight and pressing them on myself. I figure this will be a good excuse to buy more tools. Anyone ever press them on themselves?
Randy
I was thinking about getting a 12 ton press for the garage from Harbor Freight and pressing them on myself. I figure this will be a good excuse to buy more tools. Anyone ever press them on themselves?
Randy
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (Randy 71) BEGAN THE PROJECT SUNDAY...Yeha
Vetters,
Began the front end rebuild Sunday. My expert never showed to help. I have never under took a project like this before. What a man will do to save $750 in labor . I took LARS TECH paper and began myself. That TECH paper is the cats butt. I looked at it , then the shop manual. No comparision. Short sweet and to the point. Took me about 6 hours to get everything off except the upper control arms. Did those todat, about 1 1/2 hours. Passenger side was a pain in the butt. Hardest part so far was getting the upper ball joints off the control arm. Used an air chisle, grinder, punch BFhammer. Air chisle did not work form me at all. The grinder was the best way to get the rivets off.
Figure I will get the bushings out this week, then sand blast the arms then paint them. Not looking forward to getting the bushing out. Any sugestion on putting the TIE ROD ENDS on, as far as measuring the old ones?
Randy
Began the front end rebuild Sunday. My expert never showed to help. I have never under took a project like this before. What a man will do to save $750 in labor . I took LARS TECH paper and began myself. That TECH paper is the cats butt. I looked at it , then the shop manual. No comparision. Short sweet and to the point. Took me about 6 hours to get everything off except the upper control arms. Did those todat, about 1 1/2 hours. Passenger side was a pain in the butt. Hardest part so far was getting the upper ball joints off the control arm. Used an air chisle, grinder, punch BFhammer. Air chisle did not work form me at all. The grinder was the best way to get the rivets off.
Figure I will get the bushings out this week, then sand blast the arms then paint them. Not looking forward to getting the bushing out. Any sugestion on putting the TIE ROD ENDS on, as far as measuring the old ones?
Randy
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,593
Likes: 173
From: Clayton NC
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (Randy 71) BEGAN THE PROJECT SUNDAY...Yeha (Randy 71)
For the tie-rod ends just count the threads to get you close. I would recommend getting an alignment after all this so all you need is to be close enough to be able to drive to the alignment shop. Dave...
[Modified by youwish2bme, 9:53 PM 3/1/2004]
[Modified by youwish2bme, 9:53 PM 3/1/2004]
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 243
Likes: 1
From: Knoxville TN
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (youwish2bme)
I bought myself, out of that work.
I found an alignment shop, that charged me $360 labor and did it in two days, for installing new ball joints, new arm bushings, new bumpers, new tie rod ends, new tie rod sleeves, new control valve, new slave cyclinder, new hoses, new sway bar kit, and aligned it. I bought the parts, he did the labor.
I had to shop around, a lot of shops did not want to work on corvettes, (or probably had no knowledge), then some shops did not want to do a-arm bushing. What kind of alignment shop is that?
I found an alignment shop, that charged me $360 labor and did it in two days, for installing new ball joints, new arm bushings, new bumpers, new tie rod ends, new tie rod sleeves, new control valve, new slave cyclinder, new hoses, new sway bar kit, and aligned it. I bought the parts, he did the labor.
I had to shop around, a lot of shops did not want to work on corvettes, (or probably had no knowledge), then some shops did not want to do a-arm bushing. What kind of alignment shop is that?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (78whtshark)
78whtshrk,
I would have gladly paid $360. Know that I am over half way. I can say its pretty satisfying to see the work in progress going so well.
youwish2bme,
Roger that, count the threads............
Randy
I would have gladly paid $360. Know that I am over half way. I can say its pretty satisfying to see the work in progress going so well.
youwish2bme,
Roger that, count the threads............
Randy
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (youwish2bme)
......I would recommend getting an alignment after all this so all you need is to be close enough to be able to drive to the alignment shop. Dave...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: rices landing Pa.
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (Randy 71)
I built my own press and mounted to my bench it worked great so much so my brother used it for his 72 and another friend used it on his camero. Like the others said doing one side at a time actually helps.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Rochester NY
Re: Front End Rebuilt QUESTION (youwish2bme)
Measure (in millimeters) from center of grease fitting to center of grease fitting, noting they are aligned 90 degrees perpendicular. replace one at a time. Duplicate measurements and you should be right on the money!