Front End Rebuild - my first rodeo
Hello fellow A Body fans! I haven't posted a lot here recently, so I thought I would share my progress on my first front suspension rebuild!
Thanks to @Kern Dog for some great advice, and my trusty factory service manual, along with reading through threads here and FBBO, I am well on my way to getting this car's (1975 Scamp) front end back together. The bolts and nuts and still on the loose side/ not torqued. (My 383 needs to go in too, before the snow flies, but that's another project happening now too).
The torsion bar install was painless! I'm using PST's (Kanter Auto) 1.03" bars, and rubber (I think) boots with stainless clips from Detroit Muscle. With the LCA all the way down, the torsion bars slid in with some guidance. Once they were 90% home, I tapped from the rear with a rubber mallet and a drum stick! One went in slightly deeper, but I'm thinking it's no big deal since the T bars probably "walk" back in use?
The torsion bar boots... Now I am by no means trying to make myself out to be some kind of He-Man, but I didn't think it was very difficult at all. I just used a little grease and it popped over the Hex end. Do some of you use a poly boot which would make it more difficult? Or larger diameter bars?
I had to slightly persuade the opening on the chassis for the upper control arms, but just a couple taps to open it up. This front end was never apart. Most parts have been blasted and powder coated including the K frame, UCA, LCA, caliper bracket, sway bar, etc. The suspension is pretty much stock Moog stuff; yes A LOT is still available, even made in USA, and ya don't have to pay an inflated price for the exact same part from a vendor, IMHO.
I used Energy Suspension poly strut rod bushings after failing to find Moog K7068. I came to find out, they look nothing like factory PN 3950035 + 3905036! Someone actually claimed to have "a couple sets" of the Moog K7068, but that he didn't want to "break up a $1,000 front end kit just for that part". :realcrazy:
I'm obviously not done, but I'm pleased with my progress so far...
Here are some pics - I know pics are required! Please share your feedback and also let me know if anything looks whacky!
Thanks for reading!
Harry
Hello fellow A Body fans! I haven't posted a lot here recently, so I thought I would share my progress on my first front suspension rebuild!
Thanks to @Kern Dog for some great advice, and my trusty factory service manual, along with reading through threads here and FBBO, I am well on my way to getting this car's (1975 Scamp) front end back together. The bolts and nuts and still on the loose side/ not torqued. (My 383 needs to go in too, before the snow flies, but that's another project happening now too).
The torsion bar install was painless! I'm using PST's (Kanter Auto) 1.03" bars, and rubber (I think) boots with stainless clips from Detroit Muscle. With the LCA all the way down, the torsion bars slid in with some guidance. Once they were 90% home, I tapped from the rear with a rubber mallet and a drum stick! One went in slightly deeper, but I'm thinking it's no big deal since the T bars probably "walk" back in use?
The torsion bar boots... Now I am by no means trying to make myself out to be some kind of He-Man, but I didn't think it was very difficult at all. I just used a little grease and it popped over the Hex end. Do some of you use a poly boot which would make it more difficult? Or larger diameter bars?
I had to slightly persuade the opening on the chassis for the upper control arms, but just a couple taps to open it up. This front end was never apart. Most parts have been blasted and powder coated including the K frame, UCA, LCA, caliper bracket, sway bar, etc. The suspension is pretty much stock Moog stuff; yes A LOT is still available, even made in USA, and ya don't have to pay an inflated price for the exact same part from a vendor, IMHO.
I used Energy Suspension poly strut rod bushings after failing to find Moog K7068. I came to find out, they look nothing like factory PN 3950035 + 3905036! Someone actually claimed to have "a couple sets" of the Moog K7068, but that he didn't want to "break up a $1,000 front end kit just for that part". :realcrazy:
I'm obviously not done, but I'm pleased with my progress so far...
Here are some pics - I know pics are required! Please share your feedback and also let me know if anything looks whacky!
Thanks for reading!
Harry