Jerry, good news. You don't have to worry about separating the shocks and coil.
They come out as an assembly and you can change the A-arm bushings very easily.
I've recently installed poly bushings all around and what a difference.
Here is the basic routine:
Remove front calipers.
Remove ball joint. (Could be a tough one.)
Remove lower vertical link bolt.
Remove upper vertical link bolts (2). Vertical link is now free.
Remove lower shock/spring mounting bolt.
Remove upper shock/spring mounting nuts (3).
Remove shock/spring assembly.
Remove upper A-arm mounting bolts (2).
Remove lower A-arm mounting bolts (2).
Now that you have the A-arms out, you will have to remove the old bushings. Use
a socket (or similar piece of pipe or scrap) of slightly smaller diameter that
the bushing on the bushing and hit it with hammer to force the bushing out. This
part can be a real pain depending on if the bushings are well stuck in the
A-arms.
If you are putting in poly bushings (highly recommended), they go in really
easy. They are in two pieces that go in each side of the mount.
Re-assemble in reverse order.
You don't need a spring compression tool or any other special tools, although
the ball joint remover may help.
You should do all bushings on both arms, upper and lower, and both sides. I
bought mine from Spit Bits. Like I said before, the difference is amazing. I
also recommend doing the rear radius arm bushing as well. Although poly bushings
are available for the rear spring, I get along just fine with the rubber ones,
but it wouldn't take much to change those too.
Vic Whitmore
76 Spitfire
Thronhill, Ontario
Jerry wrote:
>
> Well, first off let me thanks those who provided some assistance to
> my ball joint woes. I finally persevered using (2) 2 pound hammers at
> opposing sides (about 6-8 strikes) of the vertical link followed by
> putting (1) hammer on ball joint bolt and then striking it with the
> other. Three hits and off popped the joint! YEAH!!!
>
> Now for my next set of problems. First I need to take off the
> front shocks and coils so that I can get to the bushings for the upper
> wishbone. Any pointers and doing this? Should I try to compress the
> coil before doing this or go ahead and undo the bottom wishbone bolts to
> the shock.
>
> The next two questions demonstrate my lack of intelligence in
> regards to (2) tools I ordered British Victoria (Long Motors) to assist
> in this repair job. First I having problems putting the coil spring
> compressor on the coil. I can get one end on the coil but not the
> other. I've tried spreading the coil but to no avail. What am I doing
> wrong? Second, I also got a ball joint separator. It's shaped sort
> like a "C" with a bolt on one side. How does one apply this item?
>
> I apologize for my mechanical stupidity but figured I might as one
> make it public, admit my lack of knowledge and listen to the voices of
> experience. Any and all help appreciated.
>
> Jerry - 1968 GT-6
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