Cliff\'s 1st Gen Purchase - Goldie

[CHC (RIP)]

I think that\'s why the reinforcing plates for the top links fail? The plates weaken with corrosion caused by slight water ingress from the back, then cracking starts, then they disintegrate.
 
You can understand the process better if you think of the heavy axle loads twisting away at the plates.

As you say the logic is there and makes it easier to understand the engineering bit as to why the reinforcing plates are necessary and also the reasoning they fail.  Nothing like "stripping down" to learn about the workings of suspensions.

[CHC (RIP)]

Well I had a look at the access issue tonight to the upper linkage front bolt/nut - try as I did I just couldn\'t get a spanner into position so there was nothing else for it, out with the springs!
So I\'ve dropped the rear shocks and lowered the rear axle sufficiently to withdraw the springs from their locations. Having done that I re-fitted the shocks as a temporary measure to support the axle.
Once the upper linkages are out I\'ll see about removing the bushes and then have all the bits blast cleaned before re-coating and re-bushing.

Just noticed this is my 1,000 post ....Yippeeeee!

[A7RXY]

Cliff, Congrats on your 1000 post and all since Mar 2010, almost as much time on here as working on the car ........... still where would we without you ............
 
   Good luck
 
   Dibs

[CHC (RIP)]

Cliff, Congrats on your 1000 post and all since Mar 2010, almost as much time on here as working on the car ........... still where would we without you ............
 
Good luck
 
Dibs

Cheers Dibs - ...... probably enjoying yourselves :Giggle :rollin

[CHC (RIP)]

Completed stripping out the rear suspension yesterday - so much easier without the springs in place but nevertheless that one bolt in the upper linkage was a tight git and had to be persuaded with the hammer :Hammer.

Just to be certain the correct piece goes back into the right hole (so to speak), I\'ve marked each piece at the top with a reference code - when I come to paint I\'ll transfer marking to the inside of the bush ring as an extra precaution.

[CHC (RIP)]

Having ordered new parts for the rear anti-roll bar stabilizer, the only part not available as new was the stabilizer bracket - so I had to remove the bolt from the spacer.  Despite soaking in wd40 for 24 hrs the two parts were firmly fused together so I decided the only answer was to cut of the bolt head with a disc cutter. The bracket will be cleaned with the suspension bits.
Anyway below is also a photograph of the old and new together.

[CHC (RIP)]

Having removed the upper links, thought I\'d check out the bodywork behind for the dreaded corrosion.  Nice surprise to find solid metal (all areas) - makes life easier when it come to cleaning down and preparation for protective coating.

[CHC (RIP)]

I had arranged for the bushes to be removed at work but the guy doing this is on holiday next week - fancy going on holiday when he knew he had a job to do for me, very inconsiderate I say :evillaugh.

So I thought - have a go yourself Cliff.  Not set up for pressing out bushes at home so thought I\'d try drilling them out - 8 done in 90 minutes (which includes cleaning up too).  So only 5 remaining - I\'ll try and get on with these after lunch and take some more photos as well.

[Ian65]

I had arranged for the bushes to be removed at work but the guy doing this is on holiday next week - fancy going on holiday when he knew he had a job to do for me, very inconsiderate I say :evillaugh.
 
So I thought - have a go yourself Cliff.  Not set up for pressing out bushes at home so thought I\'d try drilling them out - 8 done in 90 minutes (which includes cleaning up too).  So only 5 remaining - I\'ll try and get on with these after lunch and take some more photos as well.

You\'ll struggle to press out rusted out bushes at home without a proper press.
I always drill mine out too Cliff.... I\'ve found that if I heat them up first with a blowlamp, they become much more brittle and are much easier to drill out
Still a horrible job to do though...

[captainbizzaro]

Worst job ever on a DIY build I reckon.

[CHC (RIP)]

You\'ll struggle to press out rusted out bushes at home without a proper press.
I always drill mine out too Cliff.... I\'ve found that if I heat them up first with a blowlamp, they become much more brittle and are much easier to drill out
Still a horrible job to do though...

Agree guys - this type of job is a pain in the proverbial but nevertheless has to be done, I too have drilled the old bushes out.  Didn\'t find it that hard but quite messy with the rubber debris going eveywhere.  I think the key factor when doing this job is to have sharp drills - I used new ones so they cut through the rubber very cleanly.
Anyway, all done now so this weekends wish list fulfilled.

[CHC (RIP)]

This week I\'ll take all suspension bits and have them blast cleaned and then get them prime coated.

[captainbizzaro]

Everyones going bush crazy. Successful weekend I\'d say!

[CHC (RIP)]

Everyones going bush crazy. Successful weekend I\'d say!

You bet mate - glad that\'s out of the way.

[CHC (RIP)]

Worst job ever on a DIY build I reckon.

Actually removing the bushes is quite easy, the hard bit is all the setting up and removing this and that for access to some of the bolts.