Rear suspension overhaul

DemonSC

Registered User
Tomorrow I'm going to rebuild my whole rear suspension after work. I'm also going to put on a bigger rear sway bar (can't remember the size) that I've had sitting around for 3 years. Everything except shocks and springs are getting replaced. The inner upper control arm bushings are so bad the wheels have about a 3/4" of play on both sides. The car is an 89 with 222,000 miles on it. So far my car has been nice to me about taking suspension pieces apart, but the rear has NEVER been taken apart. Any guess' on how long this will take? Before and after pictures will come tomorrow.


-Chris
 
You probably already know this, but my big hint:

Remove the rear axle nuts BEFORE you jack it up, so that the parking brake (and if necessary an assistant inside!) can keep the axles from spinning.

Dunno how you'd do it with it up in the air.

Probably going to figure it out, or I'll be buying a set of Mark VIII half axles in a month or so (or when it gets a bit cooler!)

RwP
 
Why not spend the cheese and get a MARK VIII setup for the rear. If you have an auto, slap a set of 3.73s or higher in it and learn to love your car all over again.

SWS
 
Fail

I'm kind of thinking I have mark 8 LCA's. The ones on my car are stamped steel but the ones I'm going to put on are from a 93 and are cast. Did they change a certain year or what?

I came upon a frozen bolt and said F it haha. I don't have any extras so I put everything back together and drove home. So anybody have extra bolts laying around to sell or give away?
 
Your LCAs were on one side of the knuckle mounts, with torx bolts, or straddling the knuckle mounts, with hex bolts?

Besides, the Mark VIIIs were aluminum, not steel or iron.

What bolts do you need? I'm going to be hunting up a set of good rear knuckles and spindles tomorrow - I can always pull some extra bolts :D Post back by Monday AM if possible.

I can make the same deal I made another guy - $10 if I can stuff them into the small flat rate box at the Post Office, more if you need more bolts than will fit (hint: A full set of four Mark VIII bolts took some paper to keep them from rattling around.)

RwP
 
hmm don't recall seeing any torx bolts. I didn't get very far so I don't know.

If you could get me some bolts that would be AWESOME! If I went to the junk yard to get some bolts I'd have the same problem I'm having now haha:rolleyes:
 
hmm don't recall seeing any torx bolts. I didn't get very far so I don't know.

If you could get me some bolts that would be AWESOME! If I went to the junk yard to get some bolts I'd have the same problem I'm having now haha:rolleyes:

The torx would be the four (two on each side) at the bottom of the knuckle.

I bet you've got standard MN12 LCAs then.

Sure, over the next day or two I'll be collecting some. PM me your address, and I'll let you know for sure (should get them in plenty of time to do the job this weekend.)

Too bad you're so far from me - I'd love to be able to do this in a SHOP. With a lift and air tools and everything. Instead of laying on my back without even a shade tree ;)

RwP
 
oh yeah the bolts on mine are regular bolts. I'll take some pictures of the ones I'm going to put on so you can see what I mean.

awesome thank you so much.

yeah laying on your back trying to do that stuff would suck. Most of the work I've done on my car has been on jack stands. Now that I work at a shop, never again :D
 
Dang Ralph, do you work under these things for hours every day? :rolleyes:
Or are you quick on the search tab? Ha! Ha! (just joking)
 
Dang Ralph, do you work under these things for hours every day? :rolleyes:
Or are you quick on the search tab? Ha! Ha! (just joking)

It usually takes hours when I get under there :mad:

However, Ruby Jean is a southern lady - almost nothing's rusted solid on her. The problem is usually that the previous owners didn't treat her right, so she's taking it out on me sometimes :(:(

Also, one of my customers (I do computer work) is the local Ford dealership that's been around for over 100 years ...

RwP
 
I think that the 89 models, at least early production, used stamped and welded rear LCAs. Then they switched to cast iron.

I didn't have any problems removing the bolts, hub nut, or the half-shaft on my car ... but your results may vary!

One thing that is NOT fun is removing the LCA bushings. Unless you have a really good press setup, I would plan on spending at least 4 hours on that. So it might be good to rebuild a spare set of arms on a different day, and then have them ready for when you get under the car.
 
cast LCA's

<a href="http://s158.photobucket.com/albums/t98/DemonSC_photos/?action=view&current=DSCN1923.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t98/DemonSC_photos/DSCN1923.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
the cast LCA's from a 93 I bought to put on my 89.

<a href="http://s158.photobucket.com/albums/t98/DemonSC_photos/?action=view&current=DSCN1927.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t98/DemonSC_photos/DSCN1927.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
the crusty stamped LCA's on my 89
 
I think that the 89 models, at least early production, used stamped and welded rear LCAs. Then they switched to cast iron.

I didn't have any problems removing the bolts, hub nut, or the half-shaft on my car ... but your results may vary!

One thing that is NOT fun is removing the LCA bushings. Unless you have a really good press setup, I would plan on spending at least 4 hours on that. So it might be good to rebuild a spare set of arms on a different day, and then have them ready for when you get under the car.



The top knuckle bolt came right out no problem but the bottom ones were frozen in the bushings.

I've got a pretty good press at work that I used to press in new wheel bearings. I hate when they pop real loud. Scares the hell out of me every time lol
 
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