Can anyone recommend a front end kit and where to buy? I am going to use the rubber - not the poly components. Also, does anyone make quicker ratio steering boxes? Thanks, Dan
Dan, I can't help you with a source... I just had a question for you. WHy did you decide to go rubber? Just wondering. I am about to do the same thing to my 69.
Same Place Either Kanter's or PST. They are the same or associated somehow with each other. Same product.
Steve, Basically, 1. Don't need the poly...cars going to be a weekend cruiser not a canyon carver. 2. Don't want to pay the extra cost. 3. Don't want to deal with any squeaks. Dan
MOOG If you want the best OEM - MOOG. I got mine from OPG. Its the only vendor that will sell you a MOOG kit. 1 800 243 8355 or on line at OPG - $280 - 350 depending on year. They usually send discount coupons around this time of year, too. The only question is whether you have round or oval lower bushings. There have been threads about the steering box, you might try a search. - Bill
Yep - Moog. Rebuilt the GSX front end years ago using Moog. Can't go wrong there. With a knowledgable helper, air tools, and a pressure washer, you can do this job (including clean, paint, and shoestring alignment) in a weekend. For about $110 at Harbor Freight Tools you can even buy a shop press for your bushings. Machine shop might charge you that much for labor to press the bushings. Good Luck and don't forget to tie down your coil springs lest you kill a buddy!
Brad mentioned the springs above, they should be part of the rebuild if they haven't recently been replaced. Plenty of sources for good stock replacement springs.
Re: MOOG I got all my moog parts from my local auto parts store. o No: The bushings however, I got from PST. I went Poly Graphite only because I wanted to try them out. Please, no bashing or horror stories on the Poly. Just let me find out for myself, ok? :TU:
Ken, I've got your back, I went with all polygraphite body and suspension. Done this on other vehicles and never had squeeking problems.
Just ordered a rubber front end kit from Kanter for 149.00...don't know what brand name they sell. I guess springs are the next purchase...any recommendations? I here ESPO is good stuff. Dan
Dan I'm pretty much repeating the same thing everyone else has said----MOOG, while costing slightly more, seems to make the best components----but make sure you get the top line MOOG parts----these will all come in a blue and yellow box. Moog produces one or more cheaper lines of front end parts---for example, O'Reilly Auto Parts ( a chain) sells a Moog line that is substantially cheaper than the blue/yellow topline Moog stuff. They also sell the topline Moog. It's probably good stuff but there is a reason it costs less. A friend of mine and I "combined forces" a few weeks ago and bought a quantity of Moog parts---and did it locally at a price that beats Year One, OPG, etc----even at their 10-15% off sale prices. So-shop around locally and you may be suprised on the deal you can get. This was not at a large chain auto parts store--it was a local store that didn't want to miss a sale of a substantial amount of parts so they made us a pretty good deal. The good thing is the business and $$ stay local and returns are very easy should any problem come up. One thing to be aware of is depending on how many times the front lower control arm BALL JOINTS have been replaced you could possibly find that the replacement ball joint is too small to create the proper press fit when you go to install it in the a-arm---just be aware that this can happen. Also---CLEAN AND INSPECT the lower a-arm---especially the metal around the end of the arm near the ball joints---these a-body arms can crack in this area and this is the time to look for it. I bought a pair of lower arms recently from a salvage yard here--off a 71 Tempest---once I cleaned all the grease,etc off one of them---there is was ---a big crack. Just make sure you look yours over closely. The other day a friend of mine in Michigan (he works at an auto parts store) summarized it pretty well "Buy the parts that are built to a specification, not those that are built to a price" Patton
Just ordered a rubber front end kit from Kanter for 149.00...don't know what brand name they sell. I guess springs are the next purchase...any recommendations? I here ESPO is good stuff. Dan
moog Ken - when I checked the individual prices at my parts guy it was more than the kit from OPG. Just check the prices, maybe you can find a deal! - Bill
