So I finally started tearing down my front end and putting disc brakes on. was also going to rebuild the front end while I was at it. Sure glad I am.. The spring is a bit scary. was worried about it flying across the room. into my parents 98 riv. I like old dry rubber. here are some pics (i only have the passengers side as of now done.) I'm also debating on having my buddies auto shop press out and in the bushings. also notice the orginal rivets in the upper arm. the lower dosen't appear to have any keeper nor did i notice a spot weld. my new ball joint for the lower also dosen't have a keeper like factory.
Yep, that's exactly what my bushings looked like when I tore my front end apart. Scary, isn't it? :eek2:
yea really makes me wonder how it will handle, once its cleaned up and realigned. it used to handle like a boat with tons of body roll. hope this will clean up a good portion of that. though im now worried about my rear bushings.... Nate
My rear bushings were nowhere near as bad as the front, mostly just dried out and cracked. Since I was going to replace the rear spings and shocks, I went ahead and did the bushings too.
FUNNY DOING THE SAME THING HERE, HOPE TO GET THE LAST SIDE DONE THIS WEEKEND. THEN GOING TO ATTACK THE BODY BUSHINGS. TRIED getting TWO OF THE BOLTS LOSE. THE FIRST ENDED UP BEING 1/8 INCH DIA, AFTER RUST, WHICH OF COURSE BROKE THE OTHER IS STILL SOAKING IN PST. NEEDED REST FOR STRENGTH SURE IS HELL TO GET OLD KENNY
I just replaced all that in my ragtop project this summer...... The passenger side, front, upper a-arm bushing had NO rubber in it at all. Steel on steel! :eek2: Of course... I figured that out the first time I jumped in it to drive it home from where the trucking company dropped it off... CLUNK, every time I'd turn.. or take off... or stop... or hit a bump..etc. p Good thing I only had to drive across town. Thank god for the steel liners from the bushings. No permanent damage to anything. btw... have FUN with those a-arm bushings and ball joints! Do yourself a favor and either take them somewhere to be replaced or buy/rent a tool for doing it yourself. Not an easy job without the right tools! Autozone has a press kit you can either rent for free, or buy for like $100. I planned on renting it, but ended up buying it after I used it. VERY handy to have around.
yea.. got them all done. I beat in the new bushings with a 2 lb hammer and a vice. did the same with the ball joints. didnt cause any damange either. so it worked ok though i'd prolly rent the autozone ball joint installer for it. (i used there spring compressor but it was pretty weird.) the buick now has disc brakes in the front and new upper and lower bushings. the upper bushings wern't that bad at all. I think they've been replaced before. Nate
not yet. still waiting on getting the brake lines in.. (in doing so i converted to factory disc brakes with power) still have all the hydraulic system to do. although i think i need to replace the idler arm for the steering though. (is that the right term) the other part that connects to the frame that isnt the steering box. nate
