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Suspension Work

By: Bobbers 02/17/2021

My car was terrible over bumps, so I decided to replace the front control arm bushings and ball joints, bump stops.. Here's what they looked like when I took them out. A mess 4 sure.


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I thought I would just replace them. I ordered a set of those tubular ones. not the best ones as they were so costly. When I finally got them, I didn't like them, they looked cheap no bumper stops at all. Also I would have to use modify the spindles to make them fit and use ball joints from a blazer or something, which would be . Plus I thought I'd never find replacement bushings 4 these if I need them. (See pic below)

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So I returned them. I found another set looked better and of more expensive. (see photo below) I liked these alot. But of they didn't fit the holes in the cross arms did not line up. They listed my vehicle in their listing but the compatibility list was inaccurate. So I returned them.


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I should have just had my old ones powder coated, or I could have brought them to school and bead blasted them, But school was closed due to Covert.

So I decided to clean them up myself. So with my angle die grinder and wire brush attachments, here's my results (see below)


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Lots of work, Then a few coats of engine primer. (below)


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Then applied several coats of gloss black engine paint (rattle cans of course...Not perfect but look much better then they did. I replace the all the ball joints with the stock AC Delco replacements, I liked the blue boots...I replaced the bump stops with neoprene ones, They were really hard to get in I didn't want to tear the ear off while trying to pull them in.. So I ended up putting them in the freezer overnight, then a little Valvoline and I got them to go in okay.


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I then replace all the control arm bushings with Moog ones, they were difficult getting them out, I ended up around them with map gas beating on them and finally got them out, kind of tough pressing the new ones in too, I used a ball joint press to them.

I also replace the upper control arm shafts with these Upper Control Arm Shaft Kit Mevotech MS50922 which came with the upper control arm bushings.


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When I removed the left side lower control arm I, had the coil spring compressed and when it came out it broke the top coil off., so I ordered the stock replacement AC Delco front coil springs If you do these springs, make sure you use a safety chain, as they are difficult to get them lined up correctly and there is alot of pressure on them when compressed, I had the compressor,moved and the spring let loose, lucky I had the chain on it, could have been fatal.

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The coil springs are directional and also the end of the coil spring has to be lined up to the small hole in the lower control arm. (see photo below)

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Replaced the Coil Spring Isolator Bushings on top of the springs, the left side was completely missing...

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to be continued......

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