Wedge Reassembling wedge front suspension

[Darrell_Walker]

I'm trying to get my front suspension back together, but it just doesn't seem to "fit". I have the struts installed, but loose. I connected the lower links to the car and struts, again loose. The ROM says then "Offer up the anti-roll bar and align the ends with the mounting holes in each of the bottom links". However, the bar is too wide to go into the mounting holes. So I removed one of the lower links from the car so that I could attach it to the bar, but now of course the end of the lower link is about an inch or so too "short" to go back.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[tr8todd]

Install both struts and lower control arms. Install the sway bar end bar on one side with the nut loosely attached but secure. Don't attach the front mounts. Using a tie down strap or a come along, pull the ends of the sway bar towards each other until the loose end slides into the hole on the lower control arm. Tighten nuts and install front sway bar mounts.

 

[Darrell_Walker]

I got it back together. Here is what I ended up doing:

1. I removed the struts. Mostly because they were sort of in the way.

2. I undid the center mounts for sway bar.

3. I put the sway bar into one of the lower links that was attached to the car. I tightened it up a bit because the poly end bushings didn't leave a lot of thread, and I was worried I might not get them on if I didn't.

4. I attached the other lower link to the sway bar (it wasn't attached to the car). Same deal with the bushing to the sway bar.

5. By hand, I was able to get the inner end into the bracket on the car, but it was an inch or two short. A BFH didn't help because it would bounce back out.

6. Using a bar clamp, I pulled between the end of the lower link (where the ball joint is) and the "crotch" of the subframe on the other side. It didn't take a lot of pressure, but it was enough to get the end in position to put the bolt in.

7. I was then able to put the struts back in, and push the lower link down enough to get the ball joint connected.

Glad that job is done!

 

[DNK]

Darrell, just wait till you put a new front bar on. It won't be that easy

 

[Darrell_Walker]

Darrell, just wait till you put a new front bar on. It won't be that easy

Hopefully not any time soon!

I just love the understatement in the ROM. "Offer up", like it just falls into place. And removing the ball joints is "separate the joint". I took it to a shop, and their 20 ton press almost wasn't enough!

 

[DNK]

I went with the bigger bars on mine the before I even drove it on the street. Should have seen me trying to offer them up.
I was offering a few choice words up.
Someone,I think Todd, clued me in

 

[tr8todd]

The bigger front bars are a real nice addition. Never ran one of the one's Ted offers, but he advertises them as being 34% stiffer. That ought to be a nice upgrade for the street with the uprated springs. My only on road experience is with very stiff road racing pieces. I've found that the stiffer the bar the less spring pressure I need to run. My green street car has a custom front bar that was made by former racer John Roper. Looks and mounts like a hugely oversized stock bar with custom bushings I made. It is much stiffer than a standard bar, but I have no idea how much so. Works well with the coil overs and 250 to 300 pound springs.