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First time suspension rebuild questions, 69 b-body #1197793
03/15/12 10:54 PM
03/15/12 10:54 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 551
Great Lakes State
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ONEBADBIRD Offline OP
mopar
ONEBADBIRD  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 551
Great Lakes State
So I am getting all the following items to put on the 1969 Road Runner: New inner/outer tie rods, upper/lower ball joints, control arm bushings, stabilizer links, strut rod bushings, control arm bumpers, adjusting sleeves. I believe I will need the special sockets for the ball joints which I can rent from the parts store, What other items listed on here will I need some sort of suspension specialty tool? Is it a pain getting the control arms out to change the bushings? So I have a shop manual, have the motor pulled and the front drums are off in order to put on an SSBC front power disc brake kit, so I have decided this is a good time to do the suspension while I have the most room to work. Any personal experience you may have had doing this suspension job on a b-body is more than appreciated! Thanks,Onebad

Re: First time suspension rebuild questions, 69 b-body [Re: ONEBADBIRD] #1197794
03/16/12 01:04 AM
03/16/12 01:04 AM

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I ended up rebuilding the entire front suspension on my 69 Charger back in 2006. It wasn't as bad as what I thought. The hardest thing was taking my time. I did one side at a time and took measurements of the length from tie rod to tie rod (inner to outer) so I could get a close area when I put the new ones back in so the alignment wouldn't be totally off. It might be off but at least you have a close reference. The other hardest thing I had to do was to try and get the torsion bars out. They sell a special tool that bolt onto the bar so you can get them out easily but I ended up just moving mine back and forth till I eventually got it out. Again, take your time and use one side that is still assembled as a reference. If you don't have one already, get yourself a factory service manual as it is all explained in there also with a couple pics! More importantly, torque specs!!!!!!

Re: First time suspension rebuild questions, 69 b-body [Re: ONEBADBIRD] #1197795
03/16/12 03:02 AM
03/16/12 03:02 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
Silver70 Offline
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Silver70  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
It's been a few years since I did one, but you'll want access to a press. I use an air chisel to do the lca bushings, but it'd be easy to mess them up. They are the most difficult part in my eyes.


68 Road Runner, 69 Belvedere, 71 Challenger Vert
340 barracuda, 01 Ram CTD, 95 Ram, 04 Ram, 85 Daytona turbo Z
66 GTO, 06 Magnum RT AWD. 07 Ram CTD, 07 Ram
Re: First time suspension rebuild questions, 69 b-body [Re: Silver70] #1197796
03/16/12 09:52 AM
03/16/12 09:52 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,565
tennessee
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pushbutton Offline
pro stock
pushbutton  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,565
tennessee
Spray with PB Blaster etc. Big hammer, breaker bar, good impac. UCA bushings can be done with a good bench vise and the right size sockets Probably have to find someone with a press for LCA bushings. Break the upper ball joints loose with the UCA's still in car. The right socket is a plus,or take them off and take them to a shop with one. Good luck.

Re: First time suspension rebuild questions, 69 b-body [Re: pushbutton] #1197797
03/16/12 10:41 AM
03/16/12 10:41 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 551
Great Lakes State
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ONEBADBIRD Offline OP
mopar
ONEBADBIRD  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 551
Great Lakes State
Thanks for the info! I am getting started on this later today so your input is great. Yes I do have a factory manual for my car. I may be posting questions later Thanks

Re: First time suspension rebuild questions, 69 b-body [Re: ONEBADBIRD] #1197798
03/17/12 10:48 PM
03/17/12 10:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,766
Appleton, Wisconsin
rtmike Offline
master
rtmike  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,766
Appleton, Wisconsin
On the LCAs I welded a washer to the outer housing once I had the pin and the rubber bushing out, and the used bolts and pipe to press it out with wrenches. You do need a press to get it back together though.


Its not primer its perma gray.






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