1981 Camaro Z28

[MP81]

Yup! I mean, I bought all crazy suspension components because, in the end, I simply did not want to replace ball joints.

Went from ball joints, to ball joints and bushings, to full control arms, to control arms and springs, to control arms, springs and sway bars. And now I'll be adding on steering components, since those have never been changed.

But I'm not too concerned with timing, as the roads are in no condition for me to bring this out any time soon.

[JoeliusZ28]

As long as the roads are dry and mostly free of salt just send it. Ive probably put 200 miles on the k10 in the last few weeks she's still minty

[MP81]

Oh, I'm not worried about the salt (well, now that it's everywhere again I am)...my worry comes from the 30-foot deep meteor impact craters covering our lovely road surfaces. The 70-series sidewalls can likely take it - but I'm not sure my long tubes or oil pan would be happy.

[JoeliusZ28]

Shes that low now? Figured jewel dragway was at least smoothish

[MP81]

Jewell is mostly good, but there's a hole right at the exit of our sub that has recently been getting worse and worse.

And yeah, with the stock springs (saggin'), this is what it looks like. Everything actually tucked up really nicely, but with a big enough potcrater...

[JoeliusZ28]

I dont think you have anything to worry about there. Not that im saying dont be vigilant.

[MP81]

I won't be surprised if it actually sits higher with the new suspension...stock tires should not rub in the wheel wells when turning within a subdivision.

[MP81]

Amazing how much easier it is (and how much quicker it goes) when you know what you're doing and have the right tools. Got the old upper control arm out and the new one in, then I started prepping for the lower control arm swap. Got the sway bar endlink out as well as the shock and figured that was a good stopping point for today.

Control arm removed. This site had a lot less room to work up top due to the brake lines - and that damn AC compressor, both of which made knocking the bolts out a bit more of a task than the passenger side. Oh well - I eventually got them.



Comparison of new versus old. Bushings didn't look too bad, but definitely in need of replacement. The bumpstop, however...well, I found the lower portion (that actually contacts the frame) sitting in the lower control arm after I removed it, so...that's a good place for it.






New upper control arm all installed




Sway bar endlink and shock both removed.

[MP81]

So I spent about 2-3 hours out there today and accomplished: splitting the lower ball joint. That spring is being a real whore on this side, and the compressor is not helping. I went inside for a bit and tried to look up the "right' way to do it, in the case I am not doing it, but nothing seemed to help. Got to the point where I really got in my head about it and made myself nervous about the whole thing. Went back outside, and just tried the "sketchy" method of just lowering the jack under the lower control arm, slowly, to let the spring decompress.

Except, you know, when the lower control arm stops moving and the jack keeps going...the lower ball joint is split and the nut is removed...HOW can the spring stay compressed with nothing holding it in place?

It was at this point my wrist decided it hurts like hell, so I just said **** it and put the ball joint nut back on. Guess I'll just wait yet another week.

[JoeliusZ28]

I'm having a hard time picturing what youre describing there. You mean the joint is seperating entirely, the LCA is swinging past the point where the normal stop would be and the spring is still under pressure?

[MP81]

Yes, the joint is totally separated, and the top of the ball joint thread is roughly even with the top face of the hole in the spindle (as in, no threads past that you could thread the nut back on top). The spindle moves freely on the ball joint (you can rock it back and forth - probably could lift it up and off the ball joint, but then you have to bench press the whole spindle/brake assembly and pivot the UCA up as well., but the lower arm won't move past that point, even though the spring should want to push the LCA down so it can decompress fully. It's just sitting there, with seemingly nothing in the way or holding the LCA up...yet it just stays there.

[JoeliusZ28]

The other side didn't do this? Sounds like it might just need some gentle persuasion with a BFH

[MP81]

I think I was a little more "adventerous" with the other side. The new spring smashing my thumb maybe has not helped my mindset with this side's spring.

The problem, overall, is that the spring indexes into the frame up top, so if I compress the spring into the lower control arm, it doesn't come out of the top pocket that it indexes into, but just stretches the spring at the top, while remaining compressed at the bottom - and you can't rotate it since it is clamped down.

Ultimately, what I did on the other side was clamp higher up than the end of the frame, and as I'd lower the jack, I'd stop it where the control arm would stop, then loosen the compressor a little, and you could tell the LCA had further to go (as the spring got taller and decompressed further). Drop the jack some more until the LCA stops, repeat. It got to the point where the compressor was stuck at the frame lip at the opening, so I then had to move it down and, eventually it kind of all came out.

This side doesn't seem (or maybe it's just my nerves) to want to do the same thing.

I'm thinking you are on the right track with BFH (in my case a 1lb deadblow, so still, plenty of heft) to perhaps make it agree to the terms of being removed.

[JoeliusZ28]

Want me to bring the k10 over and hook a tow strap it?

[MP81]

That might not be a bad idea if the spring continues to behave badly.

I'm hoping to get to it this weekend, but I'm not sure if I will now or not...