Replacing Suspension Parts

[mopar70]

How hard is it to replace my suspension parts such as the steering box, upper and lower arms, strut rod, steering rod, sway bars ( I don't have the bracket on my lower control arm). I would like to do everything I can by myself and then get the alignment done by a good place.

 

[moparleo]

We don't know what your mechanical aptitude is or what tools you have. It is not technically difficult but like anything else, the first time is the hardest. You can either get yourself a service manual for your car or look it up on line and print the step by step procedures. It is best to have help and you will definitely need some tools. Some of these can be borrowed or rented from local parts stores. Safety is the most important thing here as you can get seriously injured or worse with out items like ramps or strong jack stands to support you cars weight. Read up on the front suspension and get as familiar as possible before you turn the first nut.

 

[mopar70]

Im pretty good at working on cars and I have really good jack stands and jack. Also I should have all the tools needed unless its a special one. I just need help or steps on how to do the job it should mostly be re and re but I want to know what I get into. I can't weld so I will take it to someone that can and get that stuff done there.

 

[mopar70]

The suspension kit should come with general steps on how to do the job as well.

 

[moparleo]

This is not a one man job if the car is assembled. When you say is it hard to replace the control arms and tie rods etc.... are you taking everything poff and replacing it or are you rebuilding things like the control arms ,with ball joints and bushings. If you rebuilding the suspension you need access to some specialized tools like a tie rod/ball joint splitter, a pitman arm removal tool. An upper ball joint socket. If you are going to use your torsion bars over again you need to make sure you don't gouge the surfaces with vice grips or similar tools or they are junk. You need access to a press for the upper and lower control arm bushings to be pressed out and back in again with out damaging them. The directions with the parts will assume you have done it before and will not give you detailed info. Please get someone to buddy up with you who has done a mopar before or you may be unhappy with your results.

I don't know what the welding comment is for. You do not need to weld anything unless you are talking about lower sway bar brackets. It is best to get lower arms that came with the brackets or you will have to either bolt a set of aftermarket brackets on or weld a set of stock brackets that were cut off of another set of control arms.

 

[mopar70]

Its going to be the Hotchkiss kit and you need to weld the subframe connectors in also. The only thing I need to rebuild is the lower arm reinforce it with the plates from firm feel which need to be welded. I don't have anyone that's worked on mopars but can give a hand. Going to be replacing most of the stuff.