Redoing suspension

[Rotoariesarecool]

About to redo/rebuild my entire suspension with a slew of vickauto parts does anyone have links to the shop manual on removal of everything, springs, shocks, arms, etc? thanks.

[geospider]

This is the best starting place.

https://www.mirafiori.com/124susp/

also, get a service manual.
I redid all of my suspension and steering with this and was great.
Geo

[architect]

I just replaced everything! Mostly from AR.

The rear is very easy.. everything is bolt on / off. I updated my trailing arms to 79. Do note, there is different panhard bars.

Front is a little tricky.. but still very easy. Steering linkage took a whole hour to replace. Drop the shocks, pull the springs with

OEMTOOLS 27200 Coil Spring Compressor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00825PYBA/re ... aVHUNfetzH

Leaving the ball joint nuts (loosen) on.. Remove the spindle with

GEARWRENCH 3916D Universal Ball Joint Separator https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YVWHOE/re ... 4FYpK5JZwW

Reach out if you have any questions!

[Homegrown]

Question about the order of rebuilding the suspension that isn't addressed anywhere (to my knowledge).

I took everything apart and had difficulty with ball joint to knuckle bolts. Shop separated and now all of the control arms have been repainted and new bushings pressed. However, I am confused as to the best approach to reinstall arms, spring and steering knuckle.
Do I attach the ball joints to the knuckle before trying to put it all back together? Probably not because the spring would be tough to fit.
If I put in the control arms, compress the spring, is there room to tighten the ball joint bolts in place? It doesnt seem like it.

Thanks,
Kevin
Mpls, MN

[Rotoariesarecool]

Yes, you do, attach both arms to the knuckles bolt in bottom arm, compress spring, then jack up the lower control arm until you can bolt in the upper. Here is a great resource and what I used https://autoricambi.us/blogs/technical/ ... eplacement

[dinghyguy]

+1 I just did this very task some comments in my dinghyguy restoration post.
But what i did was mount steering knuckle on lower ball joint on a arm.
Compress spring
insert spring
Use jack to lift lower a arm until upper ball joint will mate with knuckle
Tighten up ball joints
Remove spring compessors if you can......
Curse because spring neefs to be rotatrd 1/2 inch to seat properly......
Back up and repeat as necessary when you find something not quite fitting.
Dont forget that a arm bolts are to torqued laden. I will loan you my apprentices who are skilled at sitting in car if needed just send ticket!
Dinghyguy

[Homegrown]

Thanks for response. Your email was more clear than the website regarding whether or not to connect the A-arms to the spindle/knuckle before or after installing on car. I had a terrible time trying to get the ball joint bolts loose with the A-arms installed. Not a lot of room to work. Hopefully I can use your method and still get the upper ball joint tightened.

This is all good information to benefit of the original poster also.

Even with a good spring compressor, it's tough to compress enough for easy removal.

[SteinOnkel]

You can also get by with a mcpherson style compressor. Here's how (careful, this method is not for the faint of heart!). Take the spring and outside of the car compress it with the compressors. Now take some steel wire and wrap it around the compacted spring to keep tension on it. Remove the spring compressors, fit spring in car. Make sure it's sitting snugly in the bottom control arm and the upper bushing. Take a jack an place it underneath the lower arm. Jack it up until the spring has nowhere to go save for where it should be. Now cut the steel wire.


As for the ball joints, installing them is easy. Just make sure all 6 bolts are pointing up. It doesn't actually matter, as the fastener works the same both ways, but some vendors supply longer bolts that may collide with steering knuckle if they are pointing downwards.