Cascade Crew

Al Hasse · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:19 pm Post subject: Suspension parts...

With the discussions about suspension and stuff going on, I thought I'd freshen mine up and do a little improvement.

On order now are parts to rebuild the front end of the 89. As far as I know, the only piece up there that is showing any wear is the idler arm, but I'm doing the whole thing just to have new parts Cool

I looked at the rebuild kit that Spohn has, then decided to go to NAPA and get the parts from there - their not MOOG, but MRC (a NAPA brand), and I feel they are just as good since I can take them back if they don't work correctly (or so I was informed at the counter).

Ordered are the inner and outer tie rod ends, center link, idler arm, and lower ball joints - $221 plus tax, Spohn's kit is $395 plus shipping, but it has the tie rod adjusting sleeves and doesn't include the lower ball joints.

From UMI, I ordered the tie rod adjusting sleeves

And the Energy Suspension master bushing set. There are pieces in there I won't use because I already have them or not yet necessary, but it was the less expensive route to go.

I'm not expecting to have these in before dyno, but I should have the stuff by next week sometime. Maybe if I have a good weekend before then, I'll get them in.

Now I need to decide on some upper strut mounts and how to go about upgrading the brakes, including converting the rears to disc. (Ian, I'm interested in your C5 stuff).

91RSVert · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:47 pm Post subject:

I did about a 3/4 build when I first got this car. All new bushings, lower ball joints. Then my old car I had put all new tie rods, idler, etc in about 2 years before. So I moved that over to this car.

Man, what a difference!! Not a fun project though.

Dewey316 · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:02 pm Post subject:

Al, the hot-parts strut mounts look really nice. FWIW.

The MRC stuff napa sells is Moog, just sold under the napa name. The spohn kit is a waste of money.

If you want the solid tie rod sleeves, I can get you the coleman racing part numbers I got, was about $20 for everything through them, no use wasting $80 for powdercoated ones from spohn or edelbrok.

--John

Al Hasse · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks John, I already ordered the tie rod sleeves from UMI, they were $35. Looks like I saved about $170 by going to NAPA Very Happy

I'll look into the strut mounts

Al Hasse · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:55 pm Post subject:

Looks like I saved a little more at NAPA (West Bay). The parts I ordered were quoted with a car club discount at $221 plus tax. When I picked them up tonight, I paid a preferred customer discount of $199 plus tax ($216). I've done a lot of shopping in that store Laughing

I picked up...
inner & outer tie rod ends
center link
idler arm
lower ball joints

Still in the mail are poly bushings and a set of tie rod adjusting sleeves

blue89 · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:51 am Post subject:

Are you doing the a-arm bushings? Take a look at my cardomain for the V6 car. I had a really hard time getting them in and out. I would suggest welding a small hunk between the two tabs that hold the bushing in. Makes life way easier! If you don't, the tabs bend over when you try to push them out. Boxing them up also should make them stronger. Could help alignment during heavy braking or turning.

Good score on the parts though! My idler is toast and I need to get a new one. Maybe I'll follow your lead and just do it all at once.

Dewey, can you post the solid spacer order info? They would be left hand on one side and right on the other? What did you do for lock nuts?

Dewey316 · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:56 am Post subject:

Travis,

Here are the part numbers I used.

Tie Rod Sleeve - 4" - RP-129-4
Right Jam Nut - 941-R
Left Jam Nut - 941-L

You should be able to get them all from colemanracing.com

Here is the link to my picture in the garage...

http://www.cascadecrew.org/phpBB2/garage.php?mode=view_gallery_item&type=garage_gallery&image_id=60

--John

Al Hasse · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject:

Yes, my intension is to do the A-arm bushings, I havent quite decided how I want to tackle that yet. I'll keep your suggestions in mind, I have a friend locally who can weld - but it won't be for free. Also need to decide wheather or not to rent a press for the ball joints, I have a pictorial how-to by using a BIG hammer, though a press would make life easier.

While on suspension work, anybody know torque specs for ball joints, tie rod ends, etc???

blue89 · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject:

I ordered those parts from ColemanRacing.

With castle nut stuff, I generally do it till its tight then put the pin in. Maybe I should look up the spec's..... They always have come off easily though.

chevymad · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:39 pm Post subject:

Actually Al, I have an easier time with the big hammer method then I do with the press. The press always tries to cock the ball joint and jam everything up. Putting the weight of the car on the ball joint and rattling it in with a hammer they go in very easy.