front suspension tools

[Bumper]

Want to start rebuilding the front suspension on my 62 polara and it looks like the job requires a whole expensive set of special tools for a one off job. Here in the UK theres no hope of borrowing or hiring all the right stuff so my question is what specialist tools do I really need to buy and what can i get over with regular tools and a bit of ingenuity.
Thanks for your help

 

[wvmarv]

I was a mechanic for over 25 yrs. Did tons of front end, alignment work. You can get by with a pickle fork, 3 Lb. Hammer and a good set of jack stands and wrenches and socket set to 1 1/4 inch. Fork and hammer to knock the tie rods and ball joints apart. Jack stands to put under the lower control arms. For any bushings that need replaced I would just carry them into a shop that does that kind of work and have them press them in. Some shops will even let you bring your own new bushings, but some won't do the work unless you buy the parts from them. Call first to find out. That's how it works in my neck of the woods. Here are links to the tools I mentioned. Most of the old Chrysler lower ball joints bolt onto the spindle if I remember right. Which makes them pretty easy to replace. You Tube is your friend. Do a search or PM me and I can answer any questions you have. Oh, I almost forgot, a grease gun. You may need a special socket for the upper ball joints if they screw in. You can get one on eBay used for around $25.00.

http://www.harborfreight.com/11-3-4-quarter-inch-ball-joint-separator-1740.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-lb-hardwood-cross-pein-hammer-69049.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/11-3-4-quarter-inch-ball-joint-separator-1740.html
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...&_nkw=chrysler+ball+joint+socket&_sacat=43990

 

[AR67GTX]

I bought a pretty complete set of tools from Just Suspensions - but it was about 13 years ago. I may have bought them through PST - can't remember.

Included the upper ball joint socket, torsion bar remover, lower ball joint press, upper bushing remover/installer press, lower bushing remover/installer press. I'm rebuilding the suspension on my 67 (finally) and about the only other specialized tool I've used is a tie rod puller (I was never good with a fork). Oh yes, I also invested in a Harbor Freight 5 ton press. Well worth the expense IMO.

 

[wvmarv]

I bought a pretty complete set of tools from Just Suspensions - but it was about 13 years ago. I may have bought them through PST - can't remember.

Included the upper ball joint socket, torsion bar remover, lower ball joint press, upper bushing remover/installer press, lower bushing remover/installer press. I'm rebuilding the suspension on my 67 (finally) and about the only other specialized tool I've used is a tie rod puller (I was never good with a fork). Oh yes, I also invested in a Harbor Freight 5 ton press. Well worth the expense IMO.

You didn't say how much all of that cost you. Why buy all of that to only use it once? That has to be at least several hundred dollars worth of tools today.

 

[AR67GTX]

You didn't say how much all of that cost you. Why buy all of that to only use it once? That has to be at least several hundred dollars worth of tools today.

It was a while ago so I would have to go back through the receipts - probably about $150 - possibly a bit more today. But I have several cars and the bushing presses can be used on about anything. The tie rod pullers I had from other projects.

But, you have a point. For some projects the investment in specialized tools is pretty high for a one-time job. Old Corvettes require a number of specialized tools to rebuild the trailing arms and rear hubs. That's one I sent off to a specialist to do.

 

[threewood]

Pickle fork, pneumatic if you have the compressor. Pitman arm remover, upper ball joint socket ( bought mine from amazon), torsion bar removal tool can be made pretty easy but I have never needed one. When the LCA arm gets pried back it pushes the torsion bar out of the rear socket.

I have used them more than once, especially the pitman arm puller.

 

[texas69bee]

Joints separate in minutes. Works awesome, no pounding.
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-quarter-inch-forged-ball-joint-separator-99849.html