Lemforder suspension kit. How much to DIY?

[semcoinc]

The disassembly has begun





Going with poly in the lower control arm so I don't have to compress and press in the OE style.

Getting an axle remover from AutoZone to get the axle out for replacement. The outboard boot is very brittle and feels like it could crack at any time.

I broke my "Touch It Once" rule when I changed the rear air bag springs. Kick myself now because the tear out of the trunk in a real tedious PITA. So it's all getting done now! Even the 8 year old battery is coming out for a Duracell AGM H8 from Sam's club at $169.

I hope I can get that tool in there above the exhaust hangar. Dunno if my propane torch will be hot enough to bend that arm. Will find out.


Mike

[Joshdub]

My propene torch was hot enough. You don't need to bend it much. I used a deep socket and extension for leverage to bend it.

[semcoinc]

Originally Posted by Joshdub

My propene torch was hot enough. You don't need to bend it much. I used a deep socket and extension for leverage to bend it.

Great tips Josh!

I feel less anxiety now.

Thanks.

Mike

[semcoinc]

The rear end deconstruction is almost complete. Waiting for UPS to deliver the bushing removal tool and then I have to push out the lower control arm bushings to receive the poly units.









I see a crack in the parking brake shoe so I may get new shoes on there while I'm at it.

Mike

[Ricky Bobby]

I am having palpatations looking at those pics it reminds me of when I did my front wheel bearings LOL

[semcoinc]

After tackling one rear lower ball joint, I am not at all looking forward to any wheel bearing pressing.

Even with the exact proper ball joint pressing tool, it was a battle.

Mike

[Joshdub]

Maintenance work is annoying. Did the new balljoints at least press in easily?

[semcoinc]

Originally Posted by Joshdub

Maintenance work is annoying. Did the new balljoints at least press in easily?

Sadly, even with the specific tool for the E53 rear ball joint, the new one wanted to go in cocked, no matter how many times I tried to straighten it. Brute force ultimately prevailed.

These press in and press out items are the biggest PITA in maintenance.

Had to go to my Indy mechanic and toss him a $20 to have him use his press and adapters to get the lower control arm bushings out. And his is a 20 Ton stand!

No AutoZone tool available to do the ball joints or the bushings jobs.



The work on the passenger side continues.

Mike

[oldskewel]

You went with Lemfoerder rear upper control arms, right? If so, I used those with no problem. Was there some other aftermarket parts you used that may have caused the camber problems?

I would investigate more carefully to figure out why it's not alignable before going with an aftermarket adjustable arm like that. You might just be covering up a problem.

BTW on the camber alignment, you're talking almost 4 degrees there. It is a huge amount, and will be very easy to check yourself. You can make the camber adjustments (setting to their limits) yourself, and then measure camber yourself using an L-square or any right angle you can find. Not splitting hairs here. 4 degrees is yuge, should be visible just standing there looking at it. Before my rebuild, the lowest camber I could get was about 2.8* negative, but afterwards, I could get it as low as I wanted, and had the shop dial it in to the low end of spec around 1.5* negative.

That might be helpful if you want to search around, loosen + re-torque things, etc. to find where you're losing the camber, rather than taking it in for repeated alignments while you're looking.

BTW, yes your guide links looked shot. Mine were fine, and are still on there at 180k miles. When I did my work on the rear, I replaced some things that were fine but buried deep, like the integral links, and kept others, like the guide links, that I knew could be easily replaced if/when they ever actually fail. I would have replaced the swing arm bushings had I known that aftermarket versions were available.

[semcoinc]

Thanks for your insights Oldskewel.

Yes, I went with a lower grade of camber arm (Karlyn). Shame on me........and yes I can SEE the -3.8* of camber on the right rear.

I am committed to the adjustable arm and will use that to give me future flexibility as well. I'll be shooting for the low end of the spec as well -1.5*.

I changed my rear swing arm bushings out as well with polyurethane versions from PSB.

Mike