Finally got to put some time into the car again today. Started tackling the front springs and shocks. Got the brakes apart and the first shock off, it was in just beautiful shape
(Actually had to cut the other one off, the bolt had rusted stuck to the metal sleeve in the bottom of the shock - but more on that later)
I borrowed the ball joint tool from PartSource, and it's really nice... if you're working on a semi! There was absolutely no way I was going to be able to use it. Luckily I was just talking to Sargeants yesterday, and he was gracious enough to come over with his ball joint tool. So after only about 1/2 hour, we were able to get the first one dropped.
Was looking at the bushings on the sway bar and thinking they should be replaced. Well, went to remove the link and it snapped like a twig! Got the spring compressed using the jack, then tied it off with straps and chunks of wire Steve had with him.
Got the spring off the bottom perch, but it was still jammed in the top. Ended up cutting the spring in half just to get it out, but get it out we did!
Took the new spring, compressed it and tied it off with straps to help get it in place.
This was a much harder job then we thought. Took about 6 or 7 tries pushing down on the lower control arm and jamming the spring in. Had a really hard time getting it to line up with the notch in the LCA. Once we finally got it in, we popped out the ball joint because the cotter pin was rusted in, then moved on the the right side. Took 3 cutting discs for the Dremel slicing the lower part of the shock to get at the rusted sleeve. Steve even managed to do it AND save the bolt
Pulled out the angle grinder again and cut the 2nd spring in two, but now I have the top part of the spring stuck up in the tower. By this time it was getting dark, so time to call it a night. Hoping to get back at it tomorrow if the weather isn't as bad as the forecast is calling for.