I'm considering getting the suspension rebuilt on my Skylark. Many of the parts look to be beaten from all the years it's been on the road. Any ideas what I should expect to pay a shop to rebuild the front-end using standard rubber bushings. I'm thinking of having the ball joins, bushings, and end links replaced. The springs, and shocks only have about 10k on them. I'd love to do the work myself, but live in an apartment. Not to mention, no air tools.
Well, rebuilding a front end on a A body like your is not really that hard, but if you have never done it before and have no tools then you should probaly pay somebody to do it. I don't have a clue as to how much it will cost as I've allways rebuilt my own, but with garage prices(labor mainly)it probaly wont be cheap. I will say to use MOOG suspension parts as IMHO its the best stuff. There stuff cost more, but its higher quality stuff. To do a complete front end rebuild you will need: 1 idler arm, 1 center link, inner and outer tie rods(4 total), couplers for the tie rods(2 total), 2 lower ball joints, 2 upper ball joints, 4 lower A frame bushings, 4 upper A frame bushings and then you will need to get the front end aligned. Thats about all I can think of right now.
Rebuild complete Just finished mine using Moog parts as above. Detail was considered on mine . I have A shop though which helps. DA. sanded rust off frame rails after removing old umder coat mess. Sand Blasted A arms and other parts Painted all with automative paint . NOT SPRAY CAN PAIMT. Then did a disc Brake conversion. Now working on power brakes. It is alot of work but the end result is great. I was suprised to see how bad the lower controll arm bushings were worn. Air tools were a great help. You also have to consider the reinstallation of the coil springs Its a Bear without a inside coil compressor, some paint touch up required.
