Dr_Snooz
08-02-2020, 10:00 AM
I did a front-end refresh recently where I replaced all the bushings, bearings, ball joints and other rotted, worn-out bits in the front suspension. As you may know, the suspension on our cars is a world-class, 4-wheel double-wishbone setup. It is a Formula-1 design and very few cars that mortals can afford have it.
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.E5iSzN6Bw2ESSpzg_LJufAHaEK?pid=Api&rs=1
It’s complicated and works marvelously. When it wears out, you have to fix it, which can be more difficult than on lesser cars. There are more bushings to replace. There’s more stuff to disassemble, more parts to have pressed in at a machine shop.
The process of having your stuff pressed in rarely gets much mention, but it can be protracted and difficult. You have to remove the part from the car, then find another car in which to transport those parts to the shop. You have to go when the shop is open, which is often the same time you’re supposed to be at work. Rarely is it on a Saturday when you have a full day to work. Never on a Sunday. All the while you're negotiating this, your awesome car is sitting idle, lonely, and sad.
Nor does the shop work for free. They charge a lot and the price seems to go up each time I go in.
http://hempbeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/marijuana-robbery-hbtv-hemp-beach-tv.jpg
That’s your best case scenario. Which seldom happens. Often you get your new parts back battered and broken. About a decade ago, I spent several weeks fighting with Pep Boys before convincing them to replace the bushings they destroyed while installing them into some control arms off my BMW.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-38HbQFABUug/T5mcbwBKncI/AAAAAAAAArM/Y8XC7f92qvE/s1600/motivation_incompetence.jpg
Again, when I first replaced the lower ball joints on the Red Car, I took the knuckles to a shop downtown. The guy took my knuckles into the back. I heard a lot of clanking, banging and swearing.
https://pics.me.me/under-the-arch-my-dad-cursing-at-what-hes-fixing-me-holdin-40305422.png
After a looong time, he emerged with my knuckles. I asked about the commotion and he admitted that he didn’t really have the arbors he needed to complete the job properly. He got them in somehow and they held up well enough. Still, that kind of thing never inspires confidence.
Who wants to deal with this? I want to install my stuff myself, on my schedule. And I can. And I did, on this job.
Here’s what I used.
https://bpgs5w.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mgW0vjebOrIPObWaYzcnwPJfnk4I5AsCDtvYBaQrFTrD_gBN 0fFIxiihyTSzXHlyhPZTVJ8o5AkGgmdtalv6tkyqYPC24UUVRF 2DLrZBsSCW4sZz2ZK4QnIGOlbugib23AodeBIQP5At-bnKv52-O-t_4p3nNK_HL4XyvWhYPrfoIn2NpAraqRN9XGw73wEEUbZSLO5d ZuXf9FGSQlqX-Fw?width=4032&height=3024&cropmode=none
https://bl3302files.storage.live.com/y4msb7A-du3eXQbZHzW5p5dTlf7QwfL8pmviPq91pnhRl-MSiw0aUifoXTylonba3hD-IwSZ7ELMPxGXi_J7LXNtnMGUwLqKx9H7jAecBtR89BLjFTM0NL LX3_EN4GfCds5FzIO9o_yAgf_ZgqVmVwxxjmcsT8eE_mFkIK2h ZN6nhqoZ_lsek_s0o_5XZmbDjE-?width=4032&height=3024&cropmode=none
A 5-lb sledgehammer from any hardware store
A ball joint kit from Harbor Freight (here (https://www.harborfreight.com/ball-joint-service-kit-for-2wd-and-4wd-vehicles-63279.html))
A 3/4" socket kit, also from Harbor Freight (this one is no longer available, but this one (https://www.harborfreight.com/20-piece-metric-3-4-quarter-inch-heavy-duty-socket-set-5494.html) is close)
Here’s how I removed the old wheel bearing.
https://bl3302files.storage.live.com/y4mCBzSFaFKnLm_bErgLOwSZ8AB_I_dRscrDzS9WV4C569DEx7 7EBD93bHsHv-a2VgBdUpgb8kSPQu1TliOFwsSFdWtpS6hId7q8m_7KiO_dPIkC-30-qbiFN4E4jfXBZYHsFm70B0a6vd6u8mMKkl8_sNiRkdpTROUNhw undjPHrD6bBVTTsmOJ9rOHpnkv2R2?width=4032&height=3024&cropmode=none
https://bfgt5w.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mK_8l9_DLBUnICS3CsOhRiknAH2AiJ_eHHfk0S0cRm-FvSqsUmFoVIje3SwvU82N4gm99vjc2O0KIj5desaOyexBkMVll OkSZmytzPvWQfVtlAp10is_1hQg2NFCmPh1kPBcgQGI4-JktY63r0PoVLuVy7lMxV0Tjnn5AcGKGi65EOdc0Uwz-NCV0eHJWcdve5-6dyPOXk7uOUwn4sb2fzA?width=4032&height=3024&cropmode=none
You can see that my working conditions are far from ideal, but I can still remove the wheel bearing by beating it out with the sledgehammer and a large socket (don’t forget to the remove the snap ring first like I did). It took about 30 seconds, even on that wobbly wooden deck. You only need to support the knuckle on some blocks to level it out and give the bearing a space to fall.
Here is the lower ball joint removal.
https://bfgq5w.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mPyYjptKNtRNfkP3fG9QglexX6oZdSMoyVRlfzhwUe83NZyM TgP5Z2Py0dBslcrfCa86RC-KXmb-XqbhPpQZN2BdBWpR2gBtt8aANvBvuaH-5agHQGh2Wgtoxvjond-MyIciFv2iRJaWk58qBxsLgJKifhmA7szd3pTXhLpHIRKZlbdWA ljmLF2rSRtx_EkQm7z8PSQoIdzPxQjLdTqcKIQ?width=4032&height=3024&cropmode=none
https://blufiles.storage.live.com/y4mzVi6YXx2k4EF8E-lUDwndMNi93S84F1yykes6tbupnsvhIltSUVJdaHv_WWVXLI-F1qxOuv7jeijb8yULdFVPPlyKF9De0M_XCoFGUbdpE_kV7DzaZ zVF6cRDpbaGJfhJBmbqXSNldfzEXmSr9UnnQcppyENzmYw47qq 7O8z7H9cLECIHHYn1U3Mzee6s6wU?width=4032&height=3024&cropmode=none
A few good whacks with the sledgehammer and an appropriately sized socket will do the trick in about 15 seconds. Again, I’m working on dirt here.
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.E5iSzN6Bw2ESSpzg_LJufAHaEK?pid=Api&rs=1
It’s complicated and works marvelously. When it wears out, you have to fix it, which can be more difficult than on lesser cars. There are more bushings to replace. There’s more stuff to disassemble, more parts to have pressed in at a machine shop.
The process of having your stuff pressed in rarely gets much mention, but it can be protracted and difficult. You have to remove the part from the car, then find another car in which to transport those parts to the shop. You have to go when the shop is open, which is often the same time you’re supposed to be at work. Rarely is it on a Saturday when you have a full day to work. Never on a Sunday. All the while you're negotiating this, your awesome car is sitting idle, lonely, and sad.
Nor does the shop work for free. They charge a lot and the price seems to go up each time I go in.
http://hempbeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/marijuana-robbery-hbtv-hemp-beach-tv.jpg
That’s your best case scenario. Which seldom happens. Often you get your new parts back battered and broken. About a decade ago, I spent several weeks fighting with Pep Boys before convincing them to replace the bushings they destroyed while installing them into some control arms off my BMW.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-38HbQFABUug/T5mcbwBKncI/AAAAAAAAArM/Y8XC7f92qvE/s1600/motivation_incompetence.jpg
Again, when I first replaced the lower ball joints on the Red Car, I took the knuckles to a shop downtown. The guy took my knuckles into the back. I heard a lot of clanking, banging and swearing.
https://pics.me.me/under-the-arch-my-dad-cursing-at-what-hes-fixing-me-holdin-40305422.png
After a looong time, he emerged with my knuckles. I asked about the commotion and he admitted that he didn’t really have the arbors he needed to complete the job properly. He got them in somehow and they held up well enough. Still, that kind of thing never inspires confidence.
Who wants to deal with this? I want to install my stuff myself, on my schedule. And I can. And I did, on this job.
Here’s what I used.
https://bpgs5w.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mgW0vjebOrIPObWaYzcnwPJfnk4I5AsCDtvYBaQrFTrD_gBN 0fFIxiihyTSzXHlyhPZTVJ8o5AkGgmdtalv6tkyqYPC24UUVRF 2DLrZBsSCW4sZz2ZK4QnIGOlbugib23AodeBIQP5At-bnKv52-O-t_4p3nNK_HL4XyvWhYPrfoIn2NpAraqRN9XGw73wEEUbZSLO5d ZuXf9FGSQlqX-Fw?width=4032&height=3024&cropmode=none
https://bl3302files.storage.live.com/y4msb7A-du3eXQbZHzW5p5dTlf7QwfL8pmviPq91pnhRl-MSiw0aUifoXTylonba3hD-IwSZ7ELMPxGXi_J7LXNtnMGUwLqKx9H7jAecBtR89BLjFTM0NL LX3_EN4GfCds5FzIO9o_yAgf_ZgqVmVwxxjmcsT8eE_mFkIK2h ZN6nhqoZ_lsek_s0o_5XZmbDjE-?width=4032&height=3024&cropmode=none
A 5-lb sledgehammer from any hardware store
A ball joint kit from Harbor Freight (here (https://www.harborfreight.com/ball-joint-service-kit-for-2wd-and-4wd-vehicles-63279.html))
A 3/4" socket kit, also from Harbor Freight (this one is no longer available, but this one (https://www.harborfreight.com/20-piece-metric-3-4-quarter-inch-heavy-duty-socket-set-5494.html) is close)
Here’s how I removed the old wheel bearing.
https://bl3302files.storage.live.com/y4mCBzSFaFKnLm_bErgLOwSZ8AB_I_dRscrDzS9WV4C569DEx7 7EBD93bHsHv-a2VgBdUpgb8kSPQu1TliOFwsSFdWtpS6hId7q8m_7KiO_dPIkC-30-qbiFN4E4jfXBZYHsFm70B0a6vd6u8mMKkl8_sNiRkdpTROUNhw undjPHrD6bBVTTsmOJ9rOHpnkv2R2?width=4032&height=3024&cropmode=none
https://bfgt5w.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mK_8l9_DLBUnICS3CsOhRiknAH2AiJ_eHHfk0S0cRm-FvSqsUmFoVIje3SwvU82N4gm99vjc2O0KIj5desaOyexBkMVll OkSZmytzPvWQfVtlAp10is_1hQg2NFCmPh1kPBcgQGI4-JktY63r0PoVLuVy7lMxV0Tjnn5AcGKGi65EOdc0Uwz-NCV0eHJWcdve5-6dyPOXk7uOUwn4sb2fzA?width=4032&height=3024&cropmode=none
You can see that my working conditions are far from ideal, but I can still remove the wheel bearing by beating it out with the sledgehammer and a large socket (don’t forget to the remove the snap ring first like I did). It took about 30 seconds, even on that wobbly wooden deck. You only need to support the knuckle on some blocks to level it out and give the bearing a space to fall.
Here is the lower ball joint removal.
https://bfgq5w.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mPyYjptKNtRNfkP3fG9QglexX6oZdSMoyVRlfzhwUe83NZyM TgP5Z2Py0dBslcrfCa86RC-KXmb-XqbhPpQZN2BdBWpR2gBtt8aANvBvuaH-5agHQGh2Wgtoxvjond-MyIciFv2iRJaWk58qBxsLgJKifhmA7szd3pTXhLpHIRKZlbdWA ljmLF2rSRtx_EkQm7z8PSQoIdzPxQjLdTqcKIQ?width=4032&height=3024&cropmode=none
https://blufiles.storage.live.com/y4mzVi6YXx2k4EF8E-lUDwndMNi93S84F1yykes6tbupnsvhIltSUVJdaHv_WWVXLI-F1qxOuv7jeijb8yULdFVPPlyKF9De0M_XCoFGUbdpE_kV7DzaZ zVF6cRDpbaGJfhJBmbqXSNldfzEXmSr9UnnQcppyENzmYw47qq 7O8z7H9cLECIHHYn1U3Mzee6s6wU?width=4032&height=3024&cropmode=none
A few good whacks with the sledgehammer and an appropriately sized socket will do the trick in about 15 seconds. Again, I’m working on dirt here.