Front suspension refresh -- where to start?

[Jdurban94550]

I need to redo the front suspension including ball joints, shocks, and bushings. Looks like the ball joints were last replaced in the early 2000s so those probably need replaced. All the bushings including the tie rods, steering, and sway bar are rotten and need to be replaced. I think everything is original.

Dean has great kits for steering and suspension boots and bushings plus upper/lower ball joints, but I am kind of guessing which ones I will need.

Are there any other bushings, boots, or rubber parts I should replace when I have it all dissembled?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[redroadster]

If you jack up under the outer lower control arms and lock up the frt.brakes then check play with a 4ft bar lofting the spindle under the tire to check load bearing ball jt play .

[jhayden]

Here's Ross' (Sports Imports) advice on the usual wear sequence of front suspension components:

"It is always best to evaluate suspension wear before taking it apart. The old proverbial tire kick will tell you a lot about wear in a front end.
We also check for play with a cheater bar as you can literally see the movement if badly worn. The most common wear in the front end starts with upper a arm bushings and shaft, then the lower ball joints wear. If this is let go for too long, the idler arm starts to wear. Upper ball joints and and lower a arms only wear if everything else is shot to hell.

If you cant remember when you last replaced upper a arm shafts and bushings, then its probably time."

Jon

[Jdurban94550]

Thanks for the great advice. Sounds like I am probably best replacing all the boots and bushings as well as high wear parts like the shaft and idler arms.

[Datsunparts.comInc]

Here are a couple links to the vast array of steering and suspension parts all Rare Parts tested. NO failed Chinese parts peddlers 2nds here. Be sure to read the efforts we made to have these products manufactured properly:

https://datsunparts.com/collections/steering

https://datsunparts.com/collections/ste ... s-packages

https://datsunparts.com/collections/suspension

https://datsunparts.com/collections/sus ... s-packages

Dean