removing front suspension

[orangeknight]

Hi all,

So I'm about to take the front end to pieces to send the wish bones/suspension arms etc.. away for powder coat to tidy things up. Is there anything I should be careful of when taking it all to pieces - any tips??

Cheers,
O.K

[CDP]

Just make a note of the order any washers you take off so they can go back in the same order they came off.

Whenever I put my suspension back together I always use new Nylocs which is probably overkill but good piece of mind.

[downsman]

CDP said:

Whenever I put my suspension back together I always use new Nylocs which is probably overkill but good piece of mind.

A very sensible precaution, I would say. A few pence for a new nut v losing a wheel- I know which I'd prefer.

[Risky]

Copper Grease when rebuilding - especially on the cap head bolt that holds bottom of shock absorber.

[Risky]

Copper Grease when rebuilding - especially on the cap head bolt that holds bottom of shock absorber.

[anonymous-user]

O.K,
We'll have a chat Wednesday, but when I did mine I stripped down one side at a time so I always had a reference for reassembly.
Also, consider painting over power coat. Easier to touch up and less prone to sub-surface corrosion.
C.K.

[Hoonabator]

Nylocs should be one use only. Always replace once they've been used.

[BraddersCat7]

Risky said:

Copper Grease when rebuilding - especially on the cap head bolt that holds bottom of shock absorber.

Oh yes! Spent a large part of an afternoon trying to get that bolt undone. It gets so much dirt in its threads.

[Skyedriver]

If I may join in. I'm busy stripping my front suspension, it's 25 years since I built the car, how does the lower arm come off. The rear bolt is out, is the front on a post welded to the chassis. How do you pull it off when the rear is stuck behind the chassis/ali?

Also anyone know if the electric fan (it's a Ford part) is available or what it's off?
The car's a 1990 crossflow live axle.
Ta

[Tango7]

Hi, Its been a while since I stripped a live axle car down (or built one back up for that matter!) but the rear part of the lower wishbone has to be gently "stretched" or pushed towards the rear of the car to free it from the chassis and allow it to swing out to the side of the car. The front arm of the wishbone is hooked on to a large metal bush with a pair of top hat rubber bushes and small bolt and large washer to retain them in place. Remove the small bolt, push the arm backwards and the wishbone should be persuaded to come out... Maybe put a little bit of masking tape on the edge of the sideskin to avoid damage

[Skyedriver]

Tango7 said:

Hi, Its been a while since I stripped a live axle car down (or built one back up for that matter!) but the rear part of the lower wishbone has to be gently "stretched" or pushed towards the rear of the car to free it from the chassis and allow it to swing out to the side of the car. The front arm of the wishbone is hooked on to a large metal bush with a pair of top hat rubber bushes and small bolt and large washer to retain them in place. Remove the small bolt, push the arm backwards and the wishbone should be persuaded to come out... Maybe put a little bit of masking tape on the edge of the sideskin to avoid damage

Cheers
It's as I thought then. The bolts were out and the rear free. It was the front mount that I was puzzled about, then the 25 year old memory started to rekindle. It's the rubber bushes that have bonded to the arm and post. Squirted them with release and lets see tonight. Thanks.
As a follow on, replacing the bushes...original or poly type? Any collective thoughts?
T

[anonymous-user]

Hoonabator said:

Nylocs should be one use only. Always replace once they've been used.

Quite a bit of disagreement about that. The manufacturers say that they can be reused as long as the running torque is within tolerance. Never been able to find out what the running torque figures are but the implication is that they can be use at least a couple of times.

I do agree it's not worth the risk though, for what a few nuts would cost.

[one eyed mick]

The engineers and perfectionists will probably want my head but nylocs can be reused ---- a firm tap with a 2 lb hammer ,place nut nylon up on suitable surface ONE tap enough to slightly distort the nylon, job done I have used this when stuck for a nut on a sunday morning not correct but gets you out of the mire , probably on a rebuild with new bushes etc you would order new stuff up any way ---- its called bush engineering or simply bodgery

[BertBert]

I'd agree that nylocs for single use only is way over the top. If you see the number of times race cars get taken apart and put back together, they certainly don't change the nylocs every time.
Bert