DIY suspension...

[wood_e]

I delievered a car for friend last night. A 95 Nissan 240sx. This tihng had new suspension and WOW... that thing handled great. Sure, my SHO is superior mexchanically but damn, my strut mounts clunk like no other and man, my car takes a nice dive when braking. Maybe thats the PBR HDs in the front but even with my bias plugs it still does.

Anyway I was wondering how hard it is to do your own suspension. The fronts seem pretty accessible but that doesn't mean a trouble free disassembly. I have a grinder, dremmel, a bunch of wrenches sockets, etc... no air tools though.

Advice?

TIA!

 

[Slo-Sho]

If the pinch bolt in the knuckle hasn't ever been removed you are in for a helluva time!

 

[wood_e]

hahaha yeah I'm guessing that might be a real binding point in my plan

 

[Electricat]

The mechanics of the suspension are very simple, but with a northern car disassembly might be tough, as you know.

PB Blaster is your friend!!!

 

[wood_e]

Yeah I've got plenty of PB blaster on hand. I'm also thinking of a torch of some kind to heat up say oh... the pinch bolt so it might come loose.

 

[snoman]

invest in some nice impact sockets or at least make sure that the set you have is craftsman. I broke my 18mm deep well twice and a few others as well. Thank god I have a craftsman set, but the guy that was helping me lost two that weren't. We also had air tools and an impact wrench. Even with all that it was still on of the hardest projects I've done, physically and mentally.........oh yeah, we also snapped a few bolts and had to drill them out. Lets just say you're in for a good time.

 

[clindahl]

Just Curious, when you drilled out the pinch bolts (I had to do on the Rear of my car to replace the struts, busted both - one on each side) did you drill out the hole to the next size up and tap it, or run a through bolt and put a nut w/ lock washer or locknut on it? Just curious?

 

[Electricat]

Just Curious, when you drilled out the pinch bolts (I had to do on the Rear of my car to replace the struts, busted both - one on each side) did you drill out the hole to the next size up and tap it, or run a through bolt and put a nut w/ lock washer or locknut on it? Just curious?

This happened with one of my rears....I drilled it out to 1/2", and put a big bolt through it with a locknut. Driving on it for a year now with no problems.

 

[snoman]

I snapped both rears. We just drilled it out to a larger size and used a lock nut. We did have to "modify" the lock nut in order for it to seat properly. (ground it down on one side) Lets just say the whole process was very messy and tiring. There were metal flakes and rust chips everywhere when we got done.

 

[oh_SHO]

Invest in a breaker bar too. With the limited amount of suspension work I've done it was the only way to remove the pinch bolt. I've only snapped one but it was a replacment and wasn't the right hardness. Good luck!

 

[snoman]

oh, and extentions are your friend. I don't know how many times the right extention got me out of a jam. And if you're at an impass with a bolt, soak it in rust penetrating oil, or the equivalent, for a night or at least a few hours. That usually helps coax the bolt/nut to move. Good luck and get read for a **** of a work out.