Front end rebuild and Hotchkis

[sunike32]

I was going to do my ball joints and control arm bushings last summer but never got around to it. After I took it out of storage this year I got started on it right away. Here are pics of installing Hotchkis TVS and 1" rear block, Bilsteins, MOOG upper/lower ball joints, and ES poly upper/lower control arm bushings. The coils/sways were powder coated blue and the control arms were cleaned and coated with POR15. More pics will come after it gets Zaino'd up this week or next.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Front%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0306.jpg

Work area :jester:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Front%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0305.jpg

Ball joint removed and upper bushings burned out
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Front%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0309.jpg

Rivets are fun
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Front%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0322.jpg

Completed upper arms
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Front%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0350.jpg

Completed lower arms with ball joints installed wrong (upside down :jester:)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Front%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0357.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Front%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0352.jpg

[sunike32]

Right front
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Front%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0361.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Front%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0364.jpg

Left front
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Front%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0368.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Front%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0367.jpg

Rear
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Rear%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0279.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Rear%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0286.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Rear%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0299.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Rear%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0299.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/sunike32/Front%20Hotchkis%20Install/DSCN0437.jpg

I'll probably end up trimming the front coils to drop the front a hair more...

[ddrango]

Looks good dude nice pics!! You're lucky to have Hotchkis leaf springs. I want a pair...Truck looks great hope to see it this summer.

Just one huge word of advice...MOOG suggests that you mount the bolts holding the ball joints the other way. You have the lowers correct but the uppers need to be flipped. It can cause a bolt failure... :nono:

[sunike32]

Looks good dude nice pics!! You're lucky to have Hotchkis leaf springs. I want a pair...Truck looks great hope to see it this summer.

Just one huge word of advice...MOOG suggests that you mount the bolts holding the ball joints the other way. You have the lowers correct but the uppers need to be flipped. It can cause a bolt failure... :nono:

You had me thinking so I went and grabbed the instruction sheet I got with the MOOGs. It says, "Install the mounting bolts from the top down as shown."

That's how I have the uppers installed. Better double check yours, if that's what you have...

[ddrango]

You had me thinking so I went and grabbed the instruction sheet I got with the MOOGs. It says, "Install the mounting bolts from the top down as shown."

That's how I have the uppers installed. Better double check yours, if that's what you have...

It says the other way around for mine! WTF :jester: I swear...

[ddrango]

Maybe it's the years...I don't know that's the only thing I can think of. The directions said the uppers were supposed to be nut on top and the lowers were supposed to be nut on the bottom. There was even a picture, and I didn't realize. Then when I saw it I was like oh wow let me put it on like that. :rolleyes: Whatever...that's weird. I wish I had the instructions saved I threw them out after the install. Maybe I'll go by the parts store again and order a set just to check the instructions out...

[sunike32]

It says the other way around for mine! WTF :jester: I swear...

:jester: I know different years had different MOOG part numbers...so you could be right for yours.

[ddrango]

:jester: I know different years had different MOOG part numbers...so you could be right for yours.

:jester: :woot:

[Nolan]

Looks good dude nice pics!! You're lucky to have Hotchkis leaf springs. I want a pair...Truck looks great hope to see it this summer.

Just one huge word of advice...MOOG suggests that you mount the bolts holding the ball joints the other way. You have the lowers correct but the uppers need to be flipped. It can cause a bolt failure... :nono:

Hmmm, I'd like to hear their reasoning behind that one. Shear forces on the bolt shank are going to be the same regardless of the head orientation. Ditto for tensile stress.

Nolan

[dakotabluert98]

good job!!! off topic, how do u like those headlights? im not a fan of the one piece and im thinking of replacing my stockers.

[sunike32]

good job!!! off topic, how do u like those headlights? im not a fan of the one piece and im thinking of replacing my stockers.

I've always thought they were the best looking set up for our trucks. I installed them two summers ago and put them on right out of the box. I still need to aim them correctly because the passenger side hits the ground about 5ft in front of the truck :jester:

[jsd512]

Very nice looking truck!!! :rockwoot: