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Originally Posted by hughet
Is the "big ball joint at the chassis" the track rod mount? What do you think you did wrong when you installed it that caused it to become damaged? I am following your thread closely because what you do may help me determine why I have front end clunks after only a year. My guess is faulty parts but maybe I did something wrong.
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When I originally pressed it in, I used my shop press and forced it in. This time I used a small hammer and a large wrench, on it's side, to ease it in on the outer band.
http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/L201736117FEB.JPG
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Originally Posted by hughet
I had a spring compressor so I replaced everything. The only thing I didn't do in my suspension rebuild was replace the sway bar bushings so that is the first thing that I will do on my second try. How long did it take you to do that?
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The drivers side sway bar bushing took a couple of hours. The master cyl. came off, I had to loosen the wire ties on the side of the fuse box so the tools would fit approx straight down onto the bolts. I also used the synthetic MB bearing grease, the green stuff, to lubricate the sway bar and the busging so it would slide on. Then I had to futz around getting the socket out from the rear bolt and it's hiding place.
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Originally Posted by hughet
Replacing the Lower control arm bushings was pretty tricky. Did you take it to a shop? I did it myself and ended up cutting the outside of the bushing with a hacksaw to break it loose from where it was pressed into the metal shaft of the center bushing. I then pried the bushing out of the control arm and pulled the center bushing out with a threaded rod. A PVC pipe union (o.d. 2 3/4) worked fine for pressing the large part of the outside piece into one side of the control arm. Then I used the bolt from my old idler arm to pull the inside in. I did the other side in stages using the bolt and the PVC union.
I am sure that it is much easier with the right tool.
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I tried to put the outer pieces on today but I ended up bending the cap. I'm getting a new bushing set in the morning and I'll take it to a shop since they have the proper MB tool. I used my reciprocating saw to but the end cap off and pry it out as you did.
http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/L204016578LEM.JPG
http://www.pindelsky.com has a lot of good info there and made the job easier. I'm still not finished yet. Once I get the LCA bushing replaced, I'll put the drivers side all back together again and tackle the passenger side.
I'm also going to replace the steering gear and the idler arm. The exhaust has to come off for that. ugh!