The front end is not difficult, just that you require patience and a few
special tools. You should have a hydraulic press for bushings. A suitable
one can be purchased for around $100-150.00 and you will use it regularly
for all kinds of things(u joints come to mind). You will also need a tie rod
separator(pickle fork) which is $20.00 or so.And some good general hand
tools. Compare the cost of the tools against what a shop would charge and
one will see you will wind up with a front end that YOU know was done
correctly and also be in possesion of said tools plus valuable experience. I
want to do the front end of my 72 IMP this summer,specifically the control
arm bushings. Already did the rear suspension, idler arm and strut bushings.
One thing I have found over the years is don't set deadlines for the project
that are not flexible.If something unexpected pops up(it will)take it all in
stride and talk to people(this is a great place)about the problem. Somebody
has run into a similar problem somewhere along the way. There is definitely
no magic to it.As far as poly bushings go one of the mopar muscle magazines
recently did an article on lower control arms and they were not using poly
on that item.They did not recommend against it, just felt more comfortable
with the standard type on this critical piece.These magazines can be really
good reference for parts and projects as big muscle mopars used very
similar components as the big IMP and C bodies. Parts I have purchased so
far have all been from local suspension shop or parts wholesaler(MOOG,TRW).
>From: "jsadowski" <jsadowski@xxxxxxx>
>Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: Re: IML: Front-end Rebuilding
>Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 14:55:22 -0700
>
>Many folks complain about the squeaking problem on new vehicles with this
>type of bushing. Your mechanic is probably correct in that they will squeak
>for a looooooong time, partly because you likely won't drive your cars that
>much. Since most of the parts are probably original & have stood up for
>close to 40 years, I'd buy original equipment parts.
>John
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: dan.donna.m@xxxxxxx
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Monday, May 26, 2003 2:05 PM
> Subject: IML: Front-end Rebuilding
>
>
> Hello All!!!
> I am hoping that athose of you in the IML who have gone thru the
>'front-end-
> rebuild' thing can offer some first hand info here. I want to redo the
>front-
> end of both my '66 Crown convertibles. I figure if I am going to do this
>I
> would like to do it the right way and only once (in my lifetime anyway).
>I was
> talking to a mechanic at one of our local shops and he said that the
> polyurathane (spelling?) bushings and such will last a lot longer than
>say
> MOOG or TRW products BUT !!!!!! that I should expect the poly's to
>'squeek'
> for a LOOOONNNG time once they are installed. I haven't heard of this
>problem
> before but was wondering if any of you out there in IML-land could tell
>me,
> from experience, which re-build kits or parts you have used and how they
> performed afterwards. Also if you would buy again from the person you
> purchased your own oarts from.
> Thanks in advance for any and all replys!!!!!
> My 4-post lift arrives in about 2 weeks and this is probably the
> first 'project' I will attack......also, do I need any special tools?
>(besides
> something for doing ball-joints ....which is going to be another 'first'
>for
> me also....maybe I should just have the auto shop do the whole
>thing?????? I
> greatly appreciate ANY info on this!!
> Thanks everyone!!
> Dan Melnik
>
>
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