Advice and tips: installing svt suspension and bushings all around

[Captain Moonpie]

Hey everyone! I know this is the place to get expert help, so speak up if you have and helpful tips.

I am planing to install a SVT suspension and poly bushings all around in the process (http://www.steedafocus.com/store/200...duct_info.html) and I am hoping to get some tips and tricks from those of you who have done this.

I am going to be doing this install with my friend, and he has done a complete suspension setup on his '88 mustang and has the special spring compressor for the job, so I htink we have the mechanical abilities to do it. We did the cams install on my zetec, so if we can do that, we can do this lol.

Anyways, if you have done either of these installs yourself, please speak up. I want to know tips, tricks, advice, things to watch for, and things you specifically had trouble on while doing your install. All helpful comments will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time!

PS: For those of you waiting for another "Hell-Camino" project, you wont have to wait much longer. We are in the process of buying a '85 Lincoln limo with a 5.0 in it lol.

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[gofas]

pray that your bolts loosen easy and be carefull :)

[jetrinka]

One thing that got me was making sure the front struts seat all the way into their little clamps on the wheel assembly. Make sure they seat properly.

[Captain Moonpie]

Okay jetrinka, how would you check? How do I know when its seated correctly? Is is failry ovious?

[MattZX3]

the fronts on mine when i did the suspension on it were fine, the rears....lol

the lca bolts were frozen... worked on them for days with no luck...

so heres what i had to do:

new lca's



all new hardware



melt frozen bolts off





new lca's in

[Captain Moonpie]

Wow. I sure pray I dont have that problem lol. But knowing how my car likes to take the hard road, I may need to look into that lol. I am planning on getting all new bolts for all of them that I take off (I had a bolt broke as I was threading it into the transmision, dont want that headache again).

[Captain Moonpie]

Oh, how much did the new lca's cost you? And the bolts and hardware? COuld I find the bolts at a hardware store?

[MattZX3]

the bolts are special, as the inner ones adjust the alignment..

i think with the lca's and hardware, plus shipping, it was like 150 from mike at hilbish

[Captain Moonpie]

Do you have a shot of the bolts before they got mangled? I would like to know if I need to order that now. The rest of your undercairage looks like its been around some salty roads. I know my undercairage doesnt look 1/4 that bad, so I should be fine, right? How often does this sort of thing happen?

[gofas]

you might want to order,,,esp if you do like I did and put the air wrench to the rear. You think your bolt is coming out,, On no problem,, you say,,,, cause it's turning then you find it's ripped the welded bolt from the arm. then it's toast and really fun to drive after that. tear up both sides to have even effect on steer. At least have these control arms on standby.
Matt's recommendation is right, and it's still hell getting the bolt out without damage