Front Suspension rebuild

[pete1]

I have just started to rebuild the front suspension on my 93 4.0, i am planning to

Remove wishbones, strip and paint with POR15
paint all exposed chasis with POR15
replace all bushes with poly bushes
fit Steve Heaths new drop link
Fit Tower View stage 1 big brake kit with Mintex pads and paint the calipers red
replace both top ball joints.

Any tips/ advice or anything else i should be doing while its all in pieces on the floor?

[antonyj]

Goodridge hoses all round....

www.rallydesign.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=85_86_87

Call them.

[pete1]

ah, very good idea, i like your thinking, will call them first thing tomorrow

[The Surveyor]

Full four-wheel alignment once you're done as well. Also check the steering rack boots to see if they're perrished, it'll be easier to do it whilst the suspension's in bits.

[Wicker Man]

New wishbones come with the standard bushes already fitted and only cost £50 each. Might be worth considering.

[pete1]

The Rack boots look in reasonable condition, and so are the wishbones themselves so no need to change them.

Definatly going to have the four wheel alignment done, any recomendations on who to do it, I was thinking of Austec.

[pete1]

Another Question,

I am going to have to replace some of the nuts and bolts, is there any advantage to replacing them all in stainless steel? and does anyone know the Bolt and thread size?

[David H]

Don't use stainless for this application. Does not have the correct properties and is therefore dangerous.

Replace with origonal.

[JR]

David H said:

Don't use stainless for this application. Does not have the correct properties and is therefore dangerous. Replace with origonal.

Also use copper grease on assembly.

[Wicker Man]

As a general rule I consider standard high tensile bolts to be 2 to 3 times stronger than the same size in stainless. Stick with standard!

[JR]

Wicker Man said:

As a general rule I consider standard high tensile bolts to be 2 to 3 times stronger than the same size in stainless. Stick with standard!

A good general rule but a standard high tensile bolt is grade 8.8 but some car suspension bolts are the aircraft grade 12.5 so be careful.

[pete1]

Thanks for the replies, i have done a bit more investigastion and the current bolts are marked with the SAE grade 5 marks (tensile Strength 120-105 KSI which are definatly stronger than stainless.

So i shall them with the normal type,

does anybody know the thread type is it a plain metric or something different?

[Pink_Floyd]

I am plnning on doing the same later in the year, so would be very interested in you experience.
At the moment I am changing the front shocks, due to MOT failure, have finaly got the bolts out, they appear to be 1/2 inch by 3inch, not sure what grade though. As the bolts are a bit worn I want to replace with new ones, where can I get them from.

[pete1]

Hi Pink Floyd,

I have been stripping my front suspension and have managed to measure the bolts with a thread gaugu and vernier, I was intended to post the results when the list was complete, but you may need the information now.

I have found a great bolt supplier they are www.Namrick.co.uk and they will mail order small quantities.

The grade of the bolts i have so far are all the Grade S, SAE Grade 5 or Grade 8.8, these grades as far as i can tell are all basically the same. The only bolts that are different are i think the caliper mounting bolts, but i haven't got round to them yet.

The list so far is

Wishbone to Chassis through bush Short 3 each side
- 7/16" x 3" UNF 20 TPI
Wishbone to CHassis through bush Long 1 each side
- 7/16" x 5" UNF 20 TPI
Wishbone to top ball joint 1 each side
- 7/16" x 2 3/4" UNF 20 TPI
Top Shock mount to Chassis 1 each side
- 1/2" x 3" UNF
Bottom Shock mount to wishbone 1 each side
- 1/2" x 2 3/4" UNF
Wishbone to lower ball joint 3 each side
-M8 x 60mm

I am going to replace all of the bolts with new, i think it is going to cost around 30 to 40 squids for both sides.

[adrian@]

Pete1....The lower ball joint does not have 3 bolts all the same lenght....as I have not got a car apart at the moment you might need to double check, from memory there are 2 of one and the 3rd of another.
Adrian

[Ballistic Banana]

Some Nut bolt sizes here courtesy of Chassis 33 :thumbsup: Clicky Here

BB

[mrsflipflopgriff]

Copperslip the bolts up too before you put them together - makes it much easier to remove them in the future.
FFG

[JR]

mrsflipflopgriff said:

Copperslip the bolts up too before you put them together - makes it much easier to remove them in the future

and allows the suspension to work properly.

[pete1]

Thanks for all the info everyone,

I will be double checking all the bolt sizes as some don't match with Iain Jones, i suspect that Blackpool may have used different bolts because thats what they had, or as mine is a '93 the other bolts may be off a later model.

I will also take be using loads of copperslip, i don't want my new bolts looking like these ones and being such buggers to get off.

Thanks again for all the help, i will keep posting to let you all know how i get on

Pete,

ps how do i post a picture, probably a very amateur question but i will post a pic once it is all completed and shiny if i can.

[pete1]

small change of plan, I have the car all stripped now, but i have found that the later upper front wishbones are one piece and are stiffer than the two piece ones i have so i have a pair on order.

Anybody want a set of perfectly sound two piece early wishbones or the original 240mm brake discs almost as new with no discenible wear for free?

I might be able to post them from work if they are going to a good home.