Well CRAP....Time to do some front end work.

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NightShade

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Got my truck aligned a few years ago and tires a year or two after that. Now I have to replace the sway bar end link and while I am at it going to replace the bushings and went ahead and ordered the upper and lower control arm bushings and ball joints.

Went to the store last night and while going around a curve heard a pop. Was still steering ok so when I got home I took a look and found this.

20180715_010839.jpg


Was hoping to put it all off for a while since I don't really have a place to do the work at right now. The ball joints are not a major issue but the bushings on the upper control arms will be a major pain so may put them off a little longer unless they are destroyed.

Went ahead and bought ball joints that are greaseable too. Guess I can't complain too awful much though, I have put about 70,000 miles on the truck and it had about 135,000 on it when I got it.
 

dlbleak

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Moog might have a complete kit available. I kind of dread those kind of jobs. Helped a kid do his struts and tie rod ends on a Ford Escape Friday. I was groaning on the inside when he asked but he’s a good kid and doesn’t have a lot of money. Went really smooth though and I got a rib lunch out of the deal.
 

NightShade

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Yeah found a mostly complete kit. Would have ran 400 to pick it all up since the upper and lower control arms are included. Rebuilding the ones I have halves the cost.
 

GlockPride

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I’m a fix it right, once kind of guy. If I’m already taking the time and energy to get in there or already have the parts off, I just do it all. If not, it’s likely to fail on ME at the most inopportune time. But may the force be with you and the odds ever in your favor. :Heya:
 

swampratt

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Sucks!
My 57 chevy still has 3 original ball joints out of 4. and only 1 A arm has had the bushings changed.
The rest of the front steering is original.
not saying it does not need more parts but like you i am not changing them until they need it..or maybe a bit longer :)
 

NightShade

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Sucks!
My 57 chevy still has 3 original ball joints out of 4. and only 1 A arm has had the bushings changed.
The rest of the front steering is original.
not saying it does not need more parts but like you i am not changing them until they need it..or maybe a bit longer :)

Yeah. The ball joints are simple and the same goes for the lower bushings. The upper bushings are the major issue with the shaft going through the bushings that I will have to try and beat out. Watched a video and a guy suggested burning the old ones out if they are rubber but I don't want to take that long not to mention potentially causing the metal to fatigue or crystallize making it weaker.

I will replace the bushings on the sway bar and the end links then figure out a good couple days when it's not going to be super hot so I can do the rest of it and then get it aligned. Plus I may as well order the inner and outer tie rod ends and do those as well since the outer boot is showing some old age cracks. All the new ball joints have grease zerks so I will not have to do this again for a good long time.
 

NikatKimber

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I bought a complete front and rear kit for my car a couple years ago. Did the rear end first, messed up the alignment tab on the subframe, and had to replace the entire subframe. Still need to do the front.

It ended up being cheaper to buy an entire parts car, strip the rear end out, strip the subframe and install my parts into it. Fortunately for that project someone I know had a shop with a lift I used. The Beetle isn't mine either!
IMG_8268.JPG



Rear subframe assembly rebuilt and ready to go back in.
IMG_8778.JPG
 

NightShade

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Yep sometimes it's just easier to have spares you can rebuild and then swap. Did that with a carb before so I could do the rebuild in school then make the swap in a single class. Planning to do the same thing with my truck engine so I can take the time to rebuild it and make sure everything is correct then just do a swap over a weekend. Probably rebuild the rear end the same way at some point and possibly put a truetrac locker in it. Very glad I have a full frame vehicle so I don't have to worry about bending some little tab though, LOL.

But for now got the end links and the sway bar bushings replaced. The end links were toast and the bushing were probably the factory ones. The new bushings are as hard as a rock compared to the old ones. The new end links are nice and tight too. The driver side one is the one that popped off while I was turning and the passenger side one wasn't far off. Just wasn't something I normally pay attention too, generally it's check the boots on the ball joints and tie rod ends. And while doing the end links I can see the tie rod end boots are cracked through pretty much all the way around but whats another 80 bucks when I already have the rest of the parts. This way when it's all done it's brand new with good quality parts.
 

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