'85 Suspension Rebuild

[jackspade21]

Hello all,


Been a while since I've been on here, but I'm just about to start some major suspension work on my '85 King Cab. I've started on the stabilizer bar bushings, but I am thinking that I'm going to need to do a total suspension rebuild.

Any advice before I start? Any major pitfalls I should avoid? I've checked out Fastboatman's ball joint thread, and it is definitely awesome! I'll be referencing that for sure once I get that far, but for right now, I'm hoping to concentrate on replacing the bushings on the stabilizer bars, and the swaybar linkages (one of which was busted off when I bought the truck).

I'll post pics when I get a chance, but if anyone has tips to offer or general advice, I'd sure appreciate it, this is my first major repair/rebuild, so I need all the help I can get.

Thanks!

-Jack

PS - Here's a pic of the truck:

[PEZi]

I have a thread for the rear, but sadly not the front. rear-suspension-rebuild-t527052.html

[Rev_D21]

This thread >>> started-rebuilding-the-front-end-parts- ... it=rebuild is from when I rebuilt the entire suspension on my Hardbody truck. There will be differences but the execution is pretty much the same.

[jackspade21]

Thanks for the link! I will definitely check it out.

Just found these on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/140414503106?it ... 768wt_1270

Any thoughts?

[Rev_D21]

Moog part numbers, could be a good deal.

[jackspade21]

So I'm attempting to replace the rubber bushings on the tension/compression rods, and I'm having a terrible time getting them back in. The bolt holes from the lower link to the rod aren't lining up properly, and I assume that it's because I am not able to jack the wheel suspension up high enough. When I try to jack it up, it only goes up a couple inches before it lifts the truck off the jack stand. What would be causing that? Any ideas?

I'm learning as I go here, so please go easy on me if this is a total n00b question. Also, keep in mind that I'm dealing with some serious rust issues, so that is a factor.

Any help you guys could offer would be greatly appreciated.

[flinterman2000]

Try changing the parts with the truck on the ground only using the jack stands when going under the truck. Keep jacking until the holes line up.

[jackspade21]

Thanks for the advice, I will definitely give that a shot.

[jackspade21]

This is somewhat off my own topic, but it's worth a shot:

I realized at some point during my work on the truck that the backup light doesn't work. It's not the bulbs.

Any ideas where to start to track that down?


EDIT - Front suspension rebuild is finally almost done, pics soon!