[truedog]

I started on the front end rebuild on my 64 Fairlane today. After a little excitement when the coil spring compressor broke, (Holy crap!), I managed to get the passenger's side apart after a lot of work. The upper control arm is done and reinstalled with new shafts, bushings and ball joints.

Do the lower control arm bushings need to be pressed out and back in or can I drive them out? Also what is the easist way to cut the rivets on the ball joints so I can bolt in the new ones?

 

[btaillon]

I drove my bushings out and drove new ones in. I used an angle grinder to get the rivets out one my lower ball joints it was not hard to do I did it when I had the lower control arm off my car. The hardest part was getting the lower control arm off the car.
Brett
1963 Fairlane Sports Coupe

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: btaillon on 4/22/06 9:28am ]</font>

 

[351bolt]

You also need to drill the spot welds on the lower b-joints to get them off. It was a pain so I used torch and cut the welds and then re welded the new joints on.

Pete

 

[coosbaylumber]

I did sort of what Brett did years ago. Took a piece of 1 1/4" water pipe and cut to length to force fit in bushing end of lower arm. The side was then opened up via two hacksaw cuts. This created sort a a "C" section. Slip this into place around the bushing, then press the old one out.

Unfortunately, in removing one of the bushing, I found the remaining holes to be larger than the replacement bushing diameter. I had to put a very small MIG weld to hold in place.

As mentioned, the ball joint end was easier. Just took a Mikita grinder and buzzed the heads off. Then with center punch removed the rivets. Clean and install new ones.

Wm.

 

[Jetfixr320]

I Broke a Cheap Ass Chinese spring Compressor. Never again buy that Junk! Bought a Quality inner compressor. Since I was replacing my coils with 2" drop coils, I just tightend the compresor enough to get the coil loose and cut 2 coils off to get it all the way out.

 

[truedog]

I never have liked working on front ends. It's been awhile since I have done any front end work and now I remember why. What a pain in the butt! Every bolt came out one squeak at a time, the bushings and upper shaft nuts might as well have been welded in place. It's all back together now though and ready to go to the alignment shop on Thursday morning.

Time to nurse these aching muscles now........

 

[8BBL427]

A warning to anybody taking the quick route at removing the springs. Should you decide to cut them with a torch, remove the shocks first. If you don't, it is just too easy to heat the shock to the point that it bursts and directs hot oil at you and the torch. This then turns into a stream of burning oil shooting at you. Yes, I did learn this the hard way.

 

[Jetfixr320]

Holy Cow 8BBL427. Do you still have all your Hair?