Suspension Inspections

Was told to inspect my control arm bushing too...

So far it seems I need to replace my whole front end, except the control arms themselves...which I'm considering on replacing as well as the front and rear shocks and struts...go ahead and secure the whole suspension and steering linkage parts.

Are all the nuts tight? Cotter pins installed? How many miles on the car? By the looks of those 2 videos, you need a whole front end rebuild!

evintho said:

Are all the nuts tight? Cotter pins installed? How many miles on the car? By the looks of those 2 videos, you need a whole front end rebuild!

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Seems so...

Today I'm replacing the lower and upper ball joints...

2 questions:

1. Do the ball joints need to be pressed in ?

2. Will I need two jacks for this job ?

Tynan918 said:

Seems so...

Today I'm replacing the lower and upper ball joints...

2 questions:

1. Do the ball joints need to be pressed in ?

2. Will I need two jacks for this job ?

Click to expand...

3 questions...

3. Does the outer tie rod need to be disconnected to remove the ball joints ?

Tynan918 said:

play...why would the center/drag link have this much play ?

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Because the joints that are at the ends of that link are worn out.

You basically need to replace everything that moves on that one. It's all worn out. There's play in the idler arm, the steering gear and the tie rods don't look that great either, although they look less worn than the other parts.

If you try to do it one piece at a time, the shaking and play from the other worn parts will wear out the new parts very quickly. You really need a total rebuild/restoration.

You'll have to look and see if there're bolts holding the ball joints in. If there are, no need to press fit.
You only need 1 jack however, I would hold off on ball joint installation. Your upper control arm bushings are shot and need to be replaced. Probably your lowers too. The control arms need to be removed, old bushings pressed out and new ones pressed in. After that's done, then you can replace your ball joints........along with everything else.

evintho said:

You'll have to look and see if there're bolts holding the ball joints in. If there are, no need to press fit.
You only need 1 jack however, I would hold off on ball joint installation. Your upper control arm bushings are shot and need to be replaced. Probably your lowers too. The control arms need to be removed, old bushings pressed out and new ones pressed in. After that's done, then you can replace your ball joints........along with everything else.

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Figured as much...this is going to be costly...

I'll shoot more video of the lower control arm bushings to show you guys their condition...

They’re riveted and not welded on.
grind the heads off and then bolt the new ones in place.
in your pics I fail to see the safety chain needed to keep that big coil spring from exiting.

RWENUTS said:

They’re riveted and not welded on.
grind the heads off and then bolt the new ones in place.
in your pics I fail to see the safety chain needed to keep that big coil spring from exiting.

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Well my upper control arm bushings are shot anyways...and I also don't have a grinder or air hammer to break the rivets...

I might as well prepare for a whole suspension and front end rebuild. I'm going to replace it all at once.

Have you checked the rear frame rails for rot?
Common problem on monte’s.
See if you can find any weak metal using a big screwdriver.
With all the fixes needed, your money pit might need to be replaced with a better candidate.

RWENUTS said:

With all the fixes needed, your money pit might need to be replaced with a better candidate.

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Couldn't have said it better myself!

Okay I bought a compressor and a hammer gun to remove the upper ball joints.

I bought a new center link, inner tie rods, lower and upper ball joints, and upper control arm bushings.

I also bought pickle fork ball joint and tie rod separators and ball joint compressor tool.

Everything should be here by the 6th or 7th of this month.

RWENUTS said:

Have you checked the rear frame rails for rot?
Common problem on monte’s.
See if you can find any weak metal using a big screwdriver.
With all the fixes needed, your money pit might need to be replaced with a better candidate.

Click to expand...

I'll check those tomorrow. How do I find weak metal using a big screwdriver ? Like trying to find a wooden stud in a drywall ?

You probe with it. Any weak spots will be easily found.
or use a hammer and wack the frame everywhere.

Probe with the screwdriver. Try to push it through the metal. Don't hammer the screwdriver, use your hands, but you can put a little push behind it. If it goes through, you have a problem.

With a hammer, use a smaller hammer, light to medium whacks. You're not trying to bend solid metal, you're looking for scaly damaged spots that have rusted through. Like trying to find soft spots (water damage) in drywall or in particle board flooring under carpet.

I know my upper control arm bushings need replaced, how about the lower control arm bushings ? Should I replace these too ?

And after replacing all of these parts, will I need an alignment ?