Front end rebuild

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Sep 18, 2005 | 08:14 PM

onetrackmind

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Pro

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From: 1985 L98, Auto. O'FALLON, IL

Front end rebuild

Started out putting in the poly bushings on the front end on friday, I ended up changing the shocks and upper and lower ball joints, also painted the brake calipers while I was at it. I am not done on the passengers side yet, but here are some before and after pics. I think it looks pretty good aside from the rusty rotors. It should drive like a new car now. I installed new shocks and poly bushings on the rear in May.
Before:

After:

Sep 18, 2005 | 08:39 PM

onetrackmind

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From: 1985 L98, Auto. O'FALLON, IL

Sorry the pictures are so large, I am not sure how to change that while using my kodak program.

Sep 18, 2005 | 09:50 PM

onetrackmind

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From: 1985 L98, Auto. O'FALLON, IL

I resized the pics, how she look?

Sep 18, 2005 | 09:54 PM

87vette

Safety Car

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From: Fort Lauderdale FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by onetrackmind

I resized the pics, how she look?

Looks great ! I cleaned up my front end and rear end myself pretty good. I need to get new bushings though. I'm waiting for my bilsteins to arrive and will put them on this coming weekend.

Sep 18, 2005 | 10:23 PM

quiksilver458

Melting Slicks

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From: Orlando FL

looks sharp! i will be doing that soon as well!!

Sep 18, 2005 | 11:15 PM

STEVEN13

Melting Slicks

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From: N. Babylon NY

Looks awesome!!!

Not to be a wise guy but the bolts for the upper ball joint should be bolted in from the bottom not the top. The load pushes up.

I just did upper and lower balljoints on my 1992.

Steven

Sep 18, 2005 | 11:17 PM

STEVEN13

Melting Slicks

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From: N. Babylon NY

Just wanted to add-what did you use on the black inner fender wells?

Steven

Sep 19, 2005 | 07:01 PM

onetrackmind

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From: 1985 L98, Auto. O'FALLON, IL

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEVEN13

Looks awesome!!!

Not to be a wise guy but the bolts for the upper ball joint should be bolted in from the bottom not the top. The load pushes up.

I just did upper and lower balljoints on my 1992.

Steven

Thanks Steve, I was not sure which way they went, its not too hard to change them around, also I used armor all on the inner fenders.

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Sep 19, 2005 | 09:16 PM

the blur

Melting Slicks

Joined: Apr 2004

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From: cyberspace NY

please explain what difference the bolt direction makes.
there is still load on the top and bottom. nut and bolt .

Sep 19, 2005 | 11:23 PM

#10

STEVEN13

Melting Slicks

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From: N. Babylon NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by the blur

please explain what difference the bolt direction makes.
there is still load on the top and bottom. nut and bolt .

I should of said that a greater load pushes up. The (GM) shop manual clearly shows a picture of the bolts going in from the bottom and says "Bolts must be mounted in the direction shown"

Steven

Sep 20, 2005 | 12:42 PM

#11

grayml

Racer

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From: Wilmington NC

How long did it take to do this job, what was the cost and did you have to use any airtools to break things apart? Mine needs bushings too.

Sep 20, 2005 | 02:17 PM

#12

Corvette86

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From: Russellville TN

St. Jude Donor '06

Were the a-frame bushings hard to replace? Any secrets to pass on with this rebuild?

I just completed replacing all rear bushings to include u-joints. How long did it take you to complete the front end rebuild?

Sep 20, 2005 | 02:42 PM

#13

vinnies87

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From: Magnolia Mississippi

St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corvette86

Makes a heck of a difference.... and an even more pleasure to work on when she's clean.

Sep 20, 2005 | 08:34 PM

#14

onetrackmind

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From: 1985 L98, Auto. O'FALLON, IL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corvette86

The bottom a frame is alot easier that the top. On the bottom the bushing can be pressed out the same way you did the rear. On the top you have that shaft that connects the 2 sides together. What I did was to trim the edge off of the the bushing on the end with the small washer then put a socket extension through the hole closest to that end, put it in the vise and carefully push that end out. The other end will slide out of the center of its bushing. I like to take my time on these things. And the ball joints are a bigger pita than the bushings. I took a total of about 3 days to do the whole thing, but thats everything including cleaning all the parts.