suspension help

[black_bishop]

ok guys, getting ready to do the frame and suspension work on my 75 442(455, ac, all stock metal) and i need some supension help.

going to go with the kyb gas adjust shocks and i need to know what springs i should get. want to go with moog. anybody have a similar car that they have had sucess with.

also, i want to get new front steering components. should i replace the centerlink, tie rod ends(inner and outer), and idler arm or would the ones i have probably be ok to use? how can i tell if they are worn?

i also need to get ball joints, anybody have any suggestions? any to avoid. local store carries trw, tread saver(?), and moog.

[zolav8]

also, i want to get new front steering components. should i replace the centerlink, tie rod ends(inner and outer), and idler arm or would the ones i have probably be ok to use? how can i tell if they are worn?

i also need to get ball joints, anybody have any suggestions? any to avoid. local store carries trw, tread saver(?), and moog.

If you can move the ball joints by hand, this is the time to replace everything.
A worn component can kill the other parts of the suspension.

I found moog a relialble source.

[texxas8902]

Go to a reliable alignment shop that you trust in your area. Most all will give a free inspection of your brakes and front end. I never have them do the work(other than my actual alignments) but having them get it up on the lift and check the front end is handy. A good shop will have you come out to the car while it is in the air and show you the problems by moving the wheels with out weight on them, showing you where things are worn and where there is too much play. It is a good starting point for replacing parts. When ever I do my cars I usually do the upper and lower ball joints and ALL the control arm bushings at the same time and replace the bump stops. If you were going to replace the springs now would be the time. If I needed motor mounts I'd do that now too, because with everything out of the way it is very easy to get to them.If the sway bar end links and frame bushings are worn I will use new when I put it all back together. When I have the steering linkage apart for the above mentioned work I check the tie rod ends, idler arm and center link and just replace the worn items. I just work the toggles around and see how they feel, gritty, notchy or too loose or too tight or even seized up and I change it out for new, usually Moog parts. Get a hold of new one and move it around by hand and you'll know what a good one feels like compared to a bad one. You will have to grease it up first. I get new boots or covers for anything I'm reusing. Around here suspension parts don't really get rusty, so it's just the wear and tear you have to look out for. I usually check out my shocks at this time too. Replacing them or sometimes just the shock bushings if the shock is still good. I do all the labor myself with the help of a friend. It's not easy but I've done it enough that I have a system for the job and with home made tools, spacers and old sockets and a vice that make it much nicer.( plus air tools and a compressor) If you're replacing all the wear items in the front suspension and steering you can spend quite abit on just the parts but at least everything for our cars is readily available. I use AC Delco, Moog and Napa parts for these repairs. Watch out for O'Reilly and Auto Zone store brand parts, especially their crappy rubber replacement bushings,also Anchor brand and Pioneer Brand bushings and mounts. They are junky parts and I have seen them rot out in 2 years or less. It is not worth the expense of your time and labor that it takes to redo the front end to then use cheap parts that you think are saving you money. Try to get made in America parts and rubber parts, avoid India, China and Mexico made parts. I have personally seen upper control arm bushings rot out in as as little as 18 months. Cracked, split and crumbly.

[black_bishop]

well, the rub of it is that it is just a bare frame, this id the frame i'm using on my car and it is currently waiting to be painted, just figured that while i have it all apart i might as well replace the stuff. i already have a full energy suspension set and will prob be ordering they kyb and moog shocks/springs i mentioned tommorrow.