Cascade Crew

blue89 · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 4:41 pm Post subject:

When I've had mine replaced they used an air hammer and they weren't nice about it. The last time I had the a-arms boxed and they greatly appreciated that since the metal tends to float around with the bushings if you don't, same with when you replace the rear LCA's.

Wulfist · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:39 pm Post subject:

Day 3

The day was roughly 3 hours.

For Day 3 the big challenge was getting everything gutted from the front suspension. The very first thing on the to do list was to get those damn rusted screws out!

^ Haha!

^ Working smarter instead of harder never felt so good!

After my mini-triumph I got a jack under that A-arm and depressed the spring.

I dropped the A-arm from the spindle assembly and unbolted the strut from the top of the strut tower. [no picture of this]

I was then able to take that whole thing out as one piece.

Using a pry-bar I could put one foot on the A-arm and peel that spring out when the jack had let down so there was no tension.

^There is a picture of one spring fully out.

One thing left to do at this point, get the A-arm out! And both were not fun to get ratchet+wrenches in there. On the driver side my left shoulder went numb from trying to get those bolts out. =]

But well worth it when you look at everything as a whole!

Wulfist · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:47 pm Post subject:

Day 4

Mostly running around not much actuall work. So I can't give a good time estimate.

Sorry! No pictures of day 4, it was not really worth doing.

I bought the bushing sets for the A-arms and brought the whole lot to Midas in Bremerton to have them pressed in along with the Ball Joints. After going through Silverdale and a bunch of places seeing who could do it with a press we settled with Bremerton's Midas. When I got back to the garage the day was replacing the old struts with the new ones and getting everything generally ready so when the A-arms are done I can put everything in and focus on the rear end!

On a side note, my old struts....were done....they LITERALLY - were not doing anything. I could push them down, and they did not go back up unless I pulled them up. Pretty sure all the bounce in my car was spring alone.

The strut bolts were not fun to get off, a lot of hammer whacks happened to brake that initial tightness. But the new ones are on and ready! I also used a wire brush to clean up a bunch of the spots were bolts and washers meet metal for funsies.

Really just waiting on those A-arms so I can start day 5. =\

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:23 pm Post subject:

good job! i'm jealous of your build. I need mine done bad

~JAKE

aaron_sK · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:41 pm Post subject:

In the future throw a loose chain around the spring and loop it with a hardened bolt or heavy padlock. If the jack slips or fails that thing will turn into a rocket.