[Grimwolf117]

Hey Guys,

So I just bought an SVT suspension kit, I was super stoked about it, but when I went to installed it I ran into a huge problem. To preface all of this, I should mention that my '05 ST has 201,000 Michigan miles on it and all the fasteners are rusted to hell. I was able remove the bushings that connect the rear sway bar to the lower control arms, but when I went to remove the sway bar itself I can't. I used PB blaster, an impact, etc. But all I managed to accomplish was rounding the nut off. So I decided to come back to that one later and went after the lower control arm so I could get the spring out, but I couldn't get that one out either. I even took a torch to it to try to heat it up a bit. Fortunately I didn't round that one off. Also, while I was putting the car back down, having given up, the metal strip you jack the car up on (I have non idea what the technical term for this is) buckled on one side. So now I'm at an impasse. I really want to keep working on my car, in spite of all the miles on it, but I'm not sure what I should do to try to get the fasteners out. I'm also not sure if I should keep trying to work on it on my own given the fact that the rail buckled. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do??

 

[felixthecat]

Hey Guys,

So I just bought an SVT suspension kit, I was super stoked about it, but when I went to installed it I ran into a huge problem. To preface all of this, I should mention that my '05 ST has 201,000 Michigan miles on it and all the fasteners are rusted to hell. I was able remove the bushings that connect the rear sway bar to the lower control arms, but when I went to remove the sway bar itself I can't. I used PB blaster, an impact, etc. But all I managed to accomplish was rounding the nut off. So I decided to come back to that one later and went after the lower control arm so I could get the spring out, but I couldn't get that one out either. I even took a torch to it to try to heat it up a bit. Fortunately I didn't round that one off. Also, while I was putting the car back down, having given up, the metal strip you jack the car up on (I have non idea what the technical term for this is) buckled on one side. So now I'm at an impasse. I really want to keep working on my car, in spite of all the miles on it, but I'm not sure what I should do to try to get the fasteners out. I'm also not sure if I should keep trying to work on it on my own given the fact that the rail buckled. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do??

Wow, seems like rust got to your car, I'd for sure fix that rocker or frame rail 1st. Maybe sleeve it or something. I'd have to see it.

 

[sailor]

Use a wide board to spread the load when jacking, I use a small piece or a hockey puck to spread it even without a problem yet.

You can swap the rear springs without unbolting anything but the shocks you're changing anyways to drop it a bit lower. I levered out the old ones when installing SVT suspension & needed spring compressors to help get the new ones in. Pair is a pain to use in back, renting a center bolt type works better there - had a cheap set from HF on hand, so I made do. Pry bar lowers the rear even more once the shocks are off to aid in making more space.

I'll move this to Brakes, Suspension & Chassis for more looks/ideas.

 

[Highball116]

I call it a uni-body rail. Sailor is right, never put the jack head right onto those. I use a piece of 2x4 about a foot long, and that works great. However, lately I've been lifting by the rear subframe, again using a piece of wood.

Don't worry too much about the buckled rail. I had an Escort with rails mangled all to hell, and it always passed inspection.

Toby