What is a good set to rebuild the steering/front end? Has anyone done this? Is it worthwhile? Thanks, Doug

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'91 Z28 - 50,000 miles. All power options leather. 350 TPI:
K&N; Fastchip; Airfoil; Custom 'Ram-Air'; SLP Headers; Slp Runners; Borla Catback 50% open; Dual factory Cats; Poweraid TB spacer; March underdrive pulleys; Accel Extreme 9000 wires, Accel coil; Hypertech rotor & cap; NGK platinum plugs; manual fan switch; TB coolant bypass; Pirelli P7000 Z245/50/R16 all season tires; Energy suspention motor mounts; smog pump delete.
S Cobra Radar Detector; Z28 SS Floormats

 

I used the poly front end kit from pst,about $200 for everything. Definently worth it. Feels nice and tight, very responsive yet smooth.

 

How easy is this to install? Thanks, Doug

 

Doing the rebuild on the front end is relatively easy, BUT if you're going to change bushings, that is NOT easy, or fun. However, by doing it, I'm sure you'll notice a big improvement. The control arm bushings are a pain in the butt, as are the front springs, but it's not impossible...

KAM

 

im not sure if this is true but my friend, who works at a suspension shop, said I need some special machinery to do the A arm bushings and some over things too (which i don't remember right now)

 

The main special tool you'll need is a spring compressor (internal). The bushings I didn't even try to do, because they are installed in a manner that you have to press them outward of the A-arm to remove them, but to install new ones, they are pressed in from the outboard side. I hope that is clear. I had a shop remove my bushings, but I pressed the new ones in.

KAM

 

Hey 91,
Are you going to be at the Rathskellar Monday night?

I just replaced mine. I used a friends 12ton press to get out the old ones. I used rental tool 27023 from Autozone to install the bushings(del-a-lum) and the ball joint. I can talk to you Monday if your going to be there.
Later,
Craig
www.indycamaro.com member 71

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84 Z28 305HO, 5spd, 220,000 miles, Edelbrock intake, Hedman headers, low restriction exh(w/cat), K&N air filter. Best 1/4 so far 14.649 at 94.77mph

[This message has been edited by Craig84Z (edited April 06, 2001).]

 

AutoZone has a tool you can rent to press the bushings in with...??

GREAT!
Im half way through the installation, needing to get the new bushings in tomorrow, and was wondering where to go!!

Oh, and the springs, I took them out with no spring compressor without any problem. My problem was getting the struts off...they must have been superglued! Same with the drivers side ball joint.


Ken

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Bright red 86 Iroc-Z Choo Choo Customs Convertible
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Administrator @ ChevyWorld.net (Now in a BRAND NEW Design)

 

Ken, how'd you get the springs out without a compressor? Did you put a jack under the A-arm and then lower them down?

KAM

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by thunderstick:
[B] Ken, how'd you get the springs out without a compressor? Did you put a jack under the A-arm and then lower them down?

Yes. Jack the car up enough so the A-arm can go down all the way. Slip 4' jack handle through bottom of spring so it can't jump at you and push it off. Very little tension at this point.

 

Yeah, I'll be at the Rathskellar i think, need to check with my dad to see if he's going. Doug

 

I want to rebuild my entire suspension and was wondering if there is anything else I need. I was thinking on a ES poly kit, tie rod ends, ball joints, idler arm, and a center link. I have not heard much about the centerlink from various catalogs such as pst. Is this important? Anything else I need to get while I am at it other than shocks and struts. Thanks

 

Hey Hotrod, I just replaced everything you listed, I used a centerlink from Moog and
inner tie rods, also Moog and tierod adjusters from Hochkis, but you should check the diameter of your sway bar, mine is 36mm
and the kit I used came with a 30mm bushing so now I had to order one and wait or else I would have been done, thanks to JamesC on this site he suggested www.guldstrand.com and I will recieve the right bushings this week. Most bushing kits do not come with sway bar bushings of that size.




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TPIS airfoil,relocated MAT,AFPR,TB h2o bypass
March Underdrive Pulleys
otherwise stock 5.0TPI
700r4, 9 bolt 3.23 g92 axle, 4 wh. disc brks.