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Paul924 · Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 4:02 pm Post subject: suspension

well i am finally getting to upgrading my suspension, and tackling it on my own. i recently purchased front and rear bilstein shocks and weltmeister 200lb springs. i also plan on lowering rear with the eccentric bolts while i am under there. Although i was wondering what little things i should get before starting on it (i.e. bushings, bearings -whatever) or even what to watch out for that have given people trouble in the past. i am not too familiar with suspensions but i figure i would try it out, it seems pretty strait forward. thanks

924RACR · Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 10:21 pm Post subject:

Oh, boy, lotsa stuff. You'll like the Bilsteins.

Consider rebuilding the a-arms... new bushings (I just went for stock rubber on the street car, for ride comfort and durability), balljoints, and even maybe tie rod ends (these can be fairly expensive though). Rubber bushings are about $5 each, 4 needed (2 of each type), and the balljoints (a common VW part also) are under $20USD each.

You'd be well advised to replace the strut top mounts, they die, need to be replaced, and will be out when you do the struts.

The rear suspension is a major PITA. Lowering is actually not too bad, but you will need to realign it, as the alignment is affected by the ride height, a bit, as I recall. Then again, after doing the front, you'll need an alignment anyway, so no biggie. Use a carpenter's level on the door sills and bumper, get the car so it's level.

That's the major stuff.
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Carnut 280 · Joined: 28 Dec 2002 Posts: 101 Location: Denver, Colorado

Lizard · Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 2:23 am Post subject:

CMXXXI · Joined: 05 Nov 2002 Posts: 1939 Location: Vicksburg, MS

This looks like a good place to jump in and ask...

I recently purchased some used front control arms. I pressed the bushings off and sent them to a guy to have them powdercoated along with two new/used calipers. When I got the bushings off and compared the arms, I notice the angles on the bushing mounts are different. Nothing is bent and there are no dents, so they both look OEM undamaged. The piece that has the "odd" angle is the mount that looks like a spindle, where the bushing slips over it, not the mount where the bushing is fitted into the hole.

Once reinstalled with new bushings, is this difference in angles going to adversely affect things, or will the "play" afforded by the bushing and the required front-end alignment take care of things?

While I'm changing out the arms/bushings, I will also be installing new ball joints (drilled/chiseled out before sending the arms to be coated), tie rod ends, steering gear boots and the re-finished & rebuilt calipers. Should I really wait to do all this until I get some new strut inserts and do everything at one time?
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'79 Eurospec 931

Paul924 · Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 7:11 am Post subject:

where would be a good source for all these things? just the dealership or performace products, or the like?

CMXXXI · Joined: 05 Nov 2002 Posts: 1939 Location: Vicksburg, MS

I got the bushings, tie-rod ends and steering gear boots from Performance Products, and the ball joints off e-Bay(only saved maybe $5-6 on these). I bought the stuff last month when they ran a 10% off sale, along with free shipping. I got some other goodies too to "round out" my order and took advantage of the free shipping which can easily be a hefty chunk of the total bill because they charge by the merchandise price, not the package's weight.

I got a post card from PerfProd 2 weeks ago, they are running a 20% off sale through 21 May. Without the discount though, other sources may be cheaper in the long run. It's worth your time to be a "consumer shopper"and to shop around - you'd be surprised how much you can save.

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'79 Eurospec 931