I bought new parts to rebuild my Demon's front end (tie rods, upper/lower ball joints/bushings, etc). I don't know what I'm doing but I do have the K-frame/suspension removed from the car. I was planning on taking the lower control arm bolts out and just give the upper/lower control arms and spindles to a shop as a unit (no K-frame) and have them press in the bushings, install upper ball joint, etc. What do you think they should charge to do this with the parts out of the car?

Do I just take the nut off that holds the lower control arm on or is there more to removing it?

This might help a little.
http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/susp/1.html
I would say an hour of labor to press in new upper and lower bushings...cost varies but its an easy job

Im guessing the torsion bar bolt has been loosened on the lower control arm, removing all tension right?

Once that is done, you loosen the bolt attaching the control arm to the k-frame and use a rubber mallet or wood w/hammer to wack the control arm off

There are probably pictures in the tech archive too

Yes, there's more to it, especially if you are really replacing the whole shootin match; balljoints, all bushings & tierods.

A manual will tell you everything you need to know, unless you're really good and willing to observe how the suspn is hung together. The LCA gets a little funky. You can do it if you put your mind to it, but a manual is just easier.

It's also helpful to get or borrow a set of front suspension tools that are made for Mopars. Otherwise you'll be swearing a storm trying to pop the lower and upper balljoint studs out of the arms. I think a set is about $120?

- Art

Places I've called want over $200 just for labor to press in bushings and intall upper balljoint!!!

Does that sound right?

They're saying three hours...

Not even close. I had my UCA/LCA bushing and the upper ball joints done for about $80. There shouldn't be much to it.

find just a machine shop.
ran me 10 bucks a bushing.
I spent 85 bucks on the balljoint socket to do that myself, but I hear you can rent or buy one cheaper now. So if that is a big chunck find another way.

That's what I thought. I live in a community of ~300,000 people (three cities bordering each other) and I can only find one shop that will even work on them. All say they don't have the books on how to estimate time or to do the work. This is ridiculous.

My friend has one of those Northern Tool presses, can I just use that to install the bushings and then try to find a socket for the upper balljoint?

I purchased this kit to do my 69 Dart years ago.
Have used it more than once.
This kit has a torsion bar removal tool
so you dont have to cut off the torsion bar.





http://www.americanmuscle.biz/AMERICAN_MUSCLE_23000_Pro_Tool_Kit_p/23000.htm

here's my take on this,
If you think you will be into car's (mopars) for a while, buy your self some tools to work on it with.
Don't give your cash away to someone else, go buy the tools to do the job your self and when done you still got the tools and you have learnt something about the car.

My local NAPA store charged me $ 10 for each LCA to press the old bushing out and press the new one it. That included then cutting the sleeves to get the old bushing out to boot.

I pressed the UCA bushing in/out myself with a Just Suspensions kit tool. It worked well, but for the effort to remove and press the new ones in hindsight I would just take that to the NAPA store as well.

I "rented" the ball joint tool kit from Advance Auto to removed upper ball joints (while still on the car). The socket was 3/4" drive so a quick trip to Harbor Freight to get a 3/4" breaker bar had me set in no time. I think it was $ 179 on credit card, but they refunded it in full once I returned the tool kit.

The Just Suspensions ball joint socket did NOT fit correctly- it was a 64" or two too big. Wow did that tiny space make a huge difference- started rounding the ball joint head corners. The Advance Auto kit socket fit perfect. If the UCAs are off the car, just clamp them in a vise.

That was my first time doing this too, and all in all it was pretty straightforward.

Yeah, you're guys are right. I'm going to do this myself. I can press the bushings in and out and see if I can find a ball joint socket, or weld one up myself.

Like was said get a factory manual.As you stated you dont know much for front end work.You will save money time and maybe even parts.Its really not hard if you have some mechanical ability with the manual.Once you read some you will be suprised how easy it is.Rocky

Hey man,
Im in the process of doing this too. I torched the bushings out. Smells and takes awhile, but it works. I then airchiseled the metal sleeve till it cracked and then picked it out with pliers, visegrips, etc.
For the bj's, go to your local autozone or advanced auto and rent a pickle fork and the socket you need for the uppers. They do have the right size socket, I know cuz thats where I got it from.
I havent had a chance to put eveerything togehter cuz Im sanding and painting them. Tyring top make them look all purdy.
But, when I do put the bushings in, Im going to leave them in the freezer overnight and just press them in whatever way I can. I have heard that it works.
This is all on 69 b body, so I dont know if yours is that much different, but I hope this helps.

Pressed out the old bushings, pressed in the new; took me 2 hours. Took the upper control arms into town and found a place to spin out the old ball joints and spin in the new, they said "what ever you think is fair and we'll put it in the lunch fund". I had $15 cash on me so it was all theirs. Start to finish, including driving into town was less than three hours and $15.

Thanks for the advice guys...