help an idiot replace his front end

[1990LTD]

I have:

tie rod ends (all 4)
tie rod sleeves (2)
idler arm
pitman arm
rotors
pads
inner/outer bearings/seals/dust caps/a bucket of bearing grease
a bunch of dot 3

I do not have:

any experience replacing any of those things



however,

I replaced all of my suspension sofar myself with the exception of front coil springs. Did shocks and rear springs, and today I did my front sway bar end links and bushing. All of that stuff seemed pretty straightforward but the front end gubbins is all interconnected in such a way that I don't know where to start with it. I have the haynes book for my car so I've got it to fall back on if need be, I was hoping I'd be able to ask you lot for help as well. Where the hell do I start?!

What tools are needed? I need to get a grease gun because all of my MOOG parts have grease nipples. Is there a recommended kind of grease?

I have never done brakes myself, either, so any advice there would be appreciated. Don't write a novel because I know there are novels written on the subject on the board, just any tidbits that might help a n00b at brakes. irony, my last name is brake.



It also looks like I should really replace the rubber bump stop things. How many do I have?



I really hope none of this stuff is beyond me. I'll have to do it at some point since I'm gonna be schoolin' to be a mechanic..but doing it to my own car when I don't have the option of fucking it up like I would a vehicle in the classroom.


thanks all

[Lincolnmania]

tools needed

for the pitman arm idler arm and tie rod ends and sleeves

pitman arm puller
socket for the pitman arm nut, it's rather large, not sure of the size
wrenches 1/2" 3/4" 13/16, 18mm
sockets 15mm 1/2"
big hammer
pickle fork
needlenose pliers (for the cotter pins)
side cutters (for the cotter pins)
channelock pliers (for the front wheel bearing nut)

it's not that hard to change the pitman arm, remove the cotter pin and nut on the steering center link side, hit the centerlink squarely with the big hammer till the taper fit breaks free (or use the pickle fork if it wont come free) remove the big nut on the steering box output shaft, pull the pitman arm with the pitman arm puller, install the new pitman arm.

to replace the tie rod ends
tale the nuts and cotter pins off, then hit the spindle with the big hammer at the outer tie rod end to break the taper free (or again use the pickle fork) do the same on the centerlink

assemble the new inner and outer tie rod ends into the sleeves, try to get the length end to end as close as you can, tighten the collars on the sleeves and install

to replace the idler arm first you take the nut off at the centerlink, and work the centerlink free......most of the time the idler arm bushing sleeve sticks fast to the pin on the centerlink end, so it might require some prying, next unbolt the pitman arm from the frame, you will need a socket and an extension to reach inside the frame, tape the socket to the extension so you dont lose it in the frame, take the nuts off and holding the bolts in the holes install the new idler arm on the frame.....going back to the other end, the sleeve might be rusted on, you will have to chisel it off before installing the new idler arm if it stuck there, put some antisieze or grease on the pin to keep it from rusting fast again

[sly]

pickle fork and a 3 lbs sledge FTW. My pickle fork looks like crap since I've used it for so many things it's not supposed to be used for (chisel, hammer extension to bang on control arm bushings, etc).

[1987cp]

I rented a 34mm socket for the Pitman arm nut. It's really about 33mm, but 34 is what they had at AutoZone to rent.

[91waggin]

If you're going to install the front springs, you should do the lower ball joints at the same time.

[1990LTD]

so you mash on the bolt on the inner/outer tie rods to get them to break free? they are a bit dirty and full of old grease i think - should i use something like carb cleaner or brake cleaner to get it all off to break the bolts loose? will i hurt anything with it if i'm careful about overspray?

[1987cp]

No need to clean anything for disassembly unless it makes you feel better.

Damaging effects of overspray? Depends on what you overspray onto. Don't think there's a lot you can hurt in that area, though.

I have a couple of grease guns, a little one that's really handy and a big one that's clunky but that I don't have to refill constantly. Especially since I use grease guns only rarely, it seems obnoxious to have to stop in the middle of what I'm doing to refill the dumb thing. I bought a flexible hose to go on the big one, so that makes it actually more useful. I do suggest filling your gun with a cartridge, as scooping grease in by hand is incredibly messy.

[Piece-it pete]

I rented a 34mm socket for the Pitman arm nut. It's really about 33mm, but 34 is what they had at AutoZone to rent.

Yeah, let's see - we've already got a 32, 34, and 36 so let's make it...

33

I used a pipe wrench.

Done yet 1990?

Pete

[1987cp]

Sounds about like Ford logic! Not planned with respect to ease of maintenance. :nonono: