Rebuilding front SLA suspension

I meant refer to post #10 and 12 in my previous post for available parts from RockAuto. The p side LCA was stamped TRW but the right side was not. If that makes a difference. All the parts, I believe, were labeled as being made in Canada or USA. The UCA's have a grease xerk fitting so they can be serviced. Can't think of anything else at the moment. I am sure this is not new and definitely redundant information for long time members here but I wanted to followup as best I could. :)
 
I hope to get a least 100k more miles...with my new car! I snapped this photo on the way home from Columbia to Charlotte!:D

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I put these pics together a while back. Hopefully they'll come in handy to someone. I didn't install the inner nut on the front bushings because it's a nylock nut and I didn't feel like cranking it on just for a picture.

Aside from the bushings themselves, most of the parts are obsolete but may still be found except the sleeves. I was able to get the washers from Tousley Ford. Green Sales has most of the parts except the nut for the control arm end. That one is not to be found anywhere.

strutrodfull.jpg


frontbushings.jpg


rearbushings.jpg
 
achesonm8 said:
I did not purchase the tie rod ends, nor did we replace strut rod bushings (post #17) of this thread. Jay can correct me if I am wrong. In August of this year the Ford dealership replaced the front and rear strut or radial arm bushings. The front ones are blue in color and presumably from Moog. The rear ones are black in color. I made the decision to keep those and watch them. Especially the front ones. I don't drive the car that hard so I will watch the front SRB's. I have seen some pictures on this forum that are quite disturbing with respect to those Moog front SRBs! We didn't have to remove the inner bumper guard to get at the d side uca bolt head. On the p side we had a bit of a problem with removing the sway bar end link because of the brake line being in the way. But Jay removed the caliper (so he/we did a brake pad rotor inspection too. ;)). On the D side we removed the sway bar end link earlier in the procedure (I think) so that we didn't have the brake line problem. We removed the flag on the d side rear uca bolt and that made its installation easier. Note I use the term "we" here rather loosely because Jay had both the knowledge, tools and expertise. It would have taken me a lot longer and beside working with an expert is more fun. I have always been rather reluctant to use additives (e.g., STP etc). But the Sea Foam, I have too admit, was fun! Cleaned out something with all that smoke! Looking forward to getting my "eyes" (headlamps) rebuilt and working on the paint and exterior trim. Jays 98 Mk8 is really done nicely and of course I drove home with a head full of ideas for mine. 18 inch wheels...ford focus brakes...the cheap ones from europe ;))

Thanks Jay and you and your lovely wife and daughter are welcome here in Charlotte anytime.
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You're welcome Scott! It's always fun to meet up with another Mark VIII owner. Even more fun to do some work on 'em!

Let me know when you're ready to do some more wrenching on it. You're welcome to pick my brain/use my tools whenever you want. Hopefully those Moog strut rod bushings last you a while. I know of some members that have had great success with them. Maybe you'll be another one. They did look pretty good so far...

It's really too bad the dealership set you up for failure on that one. I would have thought that the dealership, of all places, would have used OEM bushings! :rolleyes:

Oh, by the way, I looked at your brake pads on the driver's side too, and they looked like they had about the same amount of life left as the passenger side.

Enjoy the new ride and have a Merry Christmas!
 
Yeah, those pictures don't do it justice. I didn't think to take a picture until it had already been going a couple minutes.
 
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