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Stupid Suspension!

N

Necronommicon

CEG'er
Joined
Mar 31, 2007
Messages
432
Location
Flat Rock Mi
Ok got the old stuff off now I'm having a hell of a time getting the new ones on. Whats the trick? I can't seem to get the ball joint line back up with the hub area. I know plenty of you have done this so whats the best way to tackle this, I'm just about ready to put a rag in the tank and light it on fire. All help will be appreciated anybody that wants to talk s*** can keep it to themselves, thanks in advance for your cooperation.
 
Ball joint is the last thing you have left to reassemble? You have to make sure the Ball joint is going straight in or it won't go in at all. I usually shove a long pry bar (or pipe) through the lower control arm and push down on the lower control arm to give me room to swing the knuckle over and onto the ball joint. Then use a hammer to tap from the bottom of the ball joint to get it into the knuckle (once it's started) You can also use a screwdriver or pry bar to seperate the backside of the knuckle some so the ball joint has more room to slide in.
 
It almost seems like the axle has put the hub too far out to even line up anywhere near the ball joint, though the axle hasn't moved it just seems that way.I was also thinking of taking a flapper wheel on a bur motor to clean where the strut sits into, don't know if this would help or not. I was even thinking of driving a tube wedge into the slit to create a little more room. What a pita. I think they should kill whoever designed this set up. Also should I assemble the ball joint first or last? Just don't know if there is a better re-assembly procedure.
 
After reading that post, to me it sounds like the ball joint actually holds the cv axle in the gearbox somewhat. So to get it back into position, you've got to shove the axle back into the gear box while prying downward on the control arm and then you can get the post on the ball joint into the hub. Sounds like if you can get just get that post into the slot so that it will stay there, a couple of good kicks to the hub will make it pop into place.

Haven't done one of these yet myself, but I may have to. My car has been pulling to the drivers side when braking as well as some clunking in the front suspension. Took it apart to inspect things this weekend and replaced the sway bar end links. Sure enough the rear bushing on the drivers side lower control arm is pretty much shot. Right now I'm debating getting a new car and selling the Contour or hanging onto it and repairing the control arm. Sounds like a real PITA from what everyone has said and from what I've read. Anyway, good luck with yours bud.
 
Got it all done, all I can say is what a PITA! The car rides great though, new struts,springs ball joints end links(front and rear), tie rod ends, strut mounts, rotater bearings, and plenty of new nuts and bolts. I think later this summer I'll change the rest of the sway bar bushings. Unbelievable difference, definitely worth the frustration.
 
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