Front busing install
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: The Dirty, Dirty South
Front busing install
Well, what a day! I was just gonna swap out the upper and lower bushings. Now I have a new caliper, new ball joints, new front wheel bearings and races and seals, and new end links on the front bar.
I shouldn't be surprised, should I? The a-arms are at the machine shop, cause the old busings ain't coming off.
They're gonna try some stuff up there to get them off. I hope they're successful!
Wish I had some new springs!
I shouldn't be surprised, should I? The a-arms are at the machine shop, cause the old busings ain't coming off.
They're gonna try some stuff up there to get them off. I hope they're successful!
Wish I had some new springs!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Don't want to sound like a smarta$$ but you could have saved the money for the bushing removal - there were many posts recently - a 10$ torch from Lowe's does the job, just burn the rubber and they're out... then cut the sleeve if necessary...
The 550lbs springs are only $59 on sale - not much after all you went through on this job...
The 550lbs springs are only $59 on sale - not much after all you went through on this job...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: The Dirty, Dirty South
Yeah, but I know the owner of the shop, going to his house for a New Year's Eve party, so this won't even be 10 bucks, and the nearest Lowe's is 25 miles away. As for the springs, I can't get them here before I need the car back together again, so another time. Rural life in the South! (and poor planning) At least now I know a great way to get the springs out, next time won't take nearly as long. :-)
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Contrail
At least now I know a great way to get the springs out, next time won't take nearly as long. :-)
sure it will...when i dropped off my drive shaft to get it shortened and balanced the guy looked at me and said sure i can do it but i need the yoke too.....well just a week before someone here had mentioned that to me....oh well just meant another trip home and back to the shop cause i got a case of the dumbs....
in fact i still got em
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Bummer you couldn't get the springs, too.
My parts store had 460 replacements sitting on the shelf.
The stock springs are a pain to get back in unless you get the right compressor.
I have done it by hand with a couple big screwdrivers, but I don't recommend that approach.
Sounds like you did it right, and no - you shouldn't be surprised.
My parts store had 460 replacements sitting on the shelf.
The stock springs are a pain to get back in unless you get the right compressor.
I have done it by hand with a couple big screwdrivers, but I don't recommend that approach.
Sounds like you did it right, and no - you shouldn't be surprised.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: The Dirty, Dirty South
After framming and beating and pulling with all our might, we used a puller. Bang, done (we left the nuts on for a stop point). Let the jack down slowly (very slowly) and pull out the old spring. 15 minutes for both side total if you subtract the framming time, and that was with original ball joints, circa 1977.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
I wasn't talking about screwdrivers on the ball joints.
You were smart to use the puller - better than a pickle fork.
I'm saying to get the springs back in, you need to slightly
compress them and pry them into place - the stock ones.
460s or 550s are shorter and simply slip right in.
If you have a proper spring compressor ... then the originals are cake.
You were smart to use the puller - better than a pickle fork.
I'm saying to get the springs back in, you need to slightly
compress them and pry them into place - the stock ones.
460s or 550s are shorter and simply slip right in.
If you have a proper spring compressor ... then the originals are cake.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Originally Posted by RedBad1979
The 550lbs springs are only $59 on sale - not much after all you went through on this job...
Thanks and Happy New Year
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: The Dirty, Dirty South
Originally Posted by NHvette
I wasn't talking about screwdrivers on the ball joints.
You were smart to use the puller - better than a pickle fork.
I'm saying to get the springs back in, you need to slightly
compress them and pry them into place - the stock ones.
460s or 550s are shorter and simply slip right in.
If you have a proper spring compressor ... then the originals are cake.
You were smart to use the puller - better than a pickle fork.
I'm saying to get the springs back in, you need to slightly
compress them and pry them into place - the stock ones.
460s or 550s are shorter and simply slip right in.
If you have a proper spring compressor ... then the originals are cake.