(Edit: This will be a work in progress)
I recently replaced everything on the front end of my 1993 Mercury Grand Marquis. Here is a general "How-To" for getting this done. You can do one component, or all. It's up to you. I gathered my parts over a few months.
PARTS LIST
- Energy Suspension Polyurethane bushing kit 4.3150G (G for Black, R for Red) ::Sorry, civlian models only:: 1 each
- Moog Upper Ball Joint K8600 2 each
- Moog Lower Ball Joint K8259 2 each
- Moog Constant Rate Coil Springs 9046 1 each
- KYB Gas-A-Just Shock KG4515 2 each
- Lower Control Arm Bolt N811745-S426 4 each
- Lower Control Arm Nut N808943-S428 4 each
- Moog Sway Bar Endlink K8631 2 each
I added the hardware for the lower control arms, because the last one I tried to remove got stuck, so I had to cut it out. It's also a good time to replace the sway bar endlinks and bushings if needed. I took some extra time and did some rust removal and painting.
SPECIAL TOOLS
-Coil Spring Compressor
-Ball Joint Removal/Install Tool
I highly recommend the spring compressor tool. Even though people have managed to remove spring without this tool, I'm not a huge fan of that much kinetic energy. If you don't use a spring compressor and it comes out, it could kill you.
The ball joint tool is necessary. You could use a shop press to remove them, but this makes it crazy easy. And installation is a breeze.
I rented the spring compressor and ball joint tool from Advance Auto Parts. The spring compressor was $53 and the ball joint tool was $130. The good news is that you get your money back when you're done with the tools.
1. Got all your parts? Good. Time to start.
2. Jack up the vehicle. Make sure you loosen the lugs before it gets airborne
3. Secure the vehicle on jackstands.
4. Remove the front wheels
5. Use a 17mm set up and remove the 2 bolts for the caliper. Then slide the caliper off and set it aside. (I put my caliper on another jackstand)
6. Remove brake rotor.
7. Use a 14mm deep well socket and try your best to remove the nut on the strut. More than likely, it will just spin. I took an air cutting wheel to it at the base, right through the rubber grommet. The KYB's come with new grommets.
8. Use a 13mm socket and remove the two bolts that secure the strut to the lower control arm, then remove the strut from the vehicle.
9. Use a deep well 15mm socket and remove the nut and bolt for the sway bar endlink on both sides. Then use a 16mm deep well socket (I used a speed handle) to remove the 4 bolts on the sway bar brackets. Then remove the complete assembly (sway bar with endlinks attached).
I recently replaced everything on the front end of my 1993 Mercury Grand Marquis. Here is a general "How-To" for getting this done. You can do one component, or all. It's up to you. I gathered my parts over a few months.
PARTS LIST
- Energy Suspension Polyurethane bushing kit 4.3150G (G for Black, R for Red) ::Sorry, civlian models only:: 1 each
- Moog Upper Ball Joint K8600 2 each
- Moog Lower Ball Joint K8259 2 each
- Moog Constant Rate Coil Springs 9046 1 each
- KYB Gas-A-Just Shock KG4515 2 each
- Lower Control Arm Bolt N811745-S426 4 each
- Lower Control Arm Nut N808943-S428 4 each
- Moog Sway Bar Endlink K8631 2 each
I added the hardware for the lower control arms, because the last one I tried to remove got stuck, so I had to cut it out. It's also a good time to replace the sway bar endlinks and bushings if needed. I took some extra time and did some rust removal and painting.
SPECIAL TOOLS
-Coil Spring Compressor
-Ball Joint Removal/Install Tool
I highly recommend the spring compressor tool. Even though people have managed to remove spring without this tool, I'm not a huge fan of that much kinetic energy. If you don't use a spring compressor and it comes out, it could kill you.
The ball joint tool is necessary. You could use a shop press to remove them, but this makes it crazy easy. And installation is a breeze.
I rented the spring compressor and ball joint tool from Advance Auto Parts. The spring compressor was $53 and the ball joint tool was $130. The good news is that you get your money back when you're done with the tools.
1. Got all your parts? Good. Time to start.
2. Jack up the vehicle. Make sure you loosen the lugs before it gets airborne
3. Secure the vehicle on jackstands.
4. Remove the front wheels
5. Use a 17mm set up and remove the 2 bolts for the caliper. Then slide the caliper off and set it aside. (I put my caliper on another jackstand)
6. Remove brake rotor.
7. Use a 14mm deep well socket and try your best to remove the nut on the strut. More than likely, it will just spin. I took an air cutting wheel to it at the base, right through the rubber grommet. The KYB's come with new grommets.
8. Use a 13mm socket and remove the two bolts that secure the strut to the lower control arm, then remove the strut from the vehicle.
9. Use a deep well 15mm socket and remove the nut and bolt for the sway bar endlink on both sides. Then use a 16mm deep well socket (I used a speed handle) to remove the 4 bolts on the sway bar brackets. Then remove the complete assembly (sway bar with endlinks attached).
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