Little maintenance

[Underdog]

Doing some frontend work on the “Hunner Edition”, ball joints and tie rod ends were wore out.

Bought new heim joints for the tie rods, sway bar end links, a new set of upper control arms, and pressed new lower ball joints in. Just a couple shots of progress.

It was really hard getting the rusted in heim joints broke loose, I introduced the new ones to a “critical” in my garage chemical called anti-sieze so the next poor guy that does them will have an easier job.

Fun fact, the shop I took it to to have the front-end aligned said they couldn’t do it because ”everything in the front end is wore out (which it was) and we can’t adjust the toe with those aftermarket tie rods”. lol I will have to find a different shop when I get done.

 

[alrock]

"Can't adjust the toe" sounds like a way to say this is gonna be hard and we don't want to do it. Unless those are maxed out (inwards) and that's what it needs.

 

[rascole]

With the bend in the tie rod you can't spin the center section without having to remove the heim from the knuckle. A lot of unnecessary work the shop doesn't to do. Unless I am seeing this wrong.

 

[cgalpha08]

Yea shop is going to moan and whine about the bend in the tie rod. If there is enough clearance, you can probably do a full rotation, but the you have to pick "am i ok with a little toe in or tow out".
My track bar on my sas has a bend, and to adjust it i have to pull the tires, put the frame on jack stands and droop out the suspension fully and i can rotate it and have it clear stuff, pain in the A** but earlier than taking one end off imo. Its a little sketchy haha

 

[Underdog]

Just did the alignment myself, bought a little digital level, set the caster, then the camber, then the toe. Took a couple times removing the heims to turn 1/2 turn to dial the toe in but it wasn’t that bad, and now I have the tools. Spent about $70 on toe plates and the digital level.

Went ahead and put Fox shocks on all 4 corners and AMSOIL in the diffs while I was under there.

I would have paid the guy for the extra time, but he must not like $…lol.