front end help

[xxslow50xx]

ok i have read the stickies and looked at some past post but i would like to know a little more. i have a 1990 cv pi and i wanna know every part i need to convert the front suspension and brakes to the 98-02. from what i have read i need the upper control arms spindle rotors and calipers. what ball joints do i use 98-02 or 1990. i keep my original lower control arms correct. is all the steering linkige the same will it bolt to the new spindle no problems. what brake lines should i use the stock ones i have now or the new ones. if i wanted to replace the bushing on my control arms i would have to get 98-02 uppers and 1990 lowers right. thank you for any help i just want to know eveything so i can get all of it and get it done no problems due to car being my daily driver

[mrltd]

Need to use the newer ball joints.

You CAN keep the stock lowers, but do not have to.

Steering will bolt up.

Bushings...All depends on the arms you are using.

Have to use the newer HOSES with adapters.

[Lincolnmania]

the lower control arms are the same except the ball joints......you need 96-02 lower ball joints
upper arms, the easiest id to get a set of 92-95 upper arms and ball joints, or if you are doing the poly bushings anyway you can put your 1990 upper control arm shaft into a 96-02 upper arm and use 96-02 upper ball joints
the front brake hoses will be 98-02, you need a std to metric adaptor to use the 98-02 hoses, it was like ford meant the adaptor to be there, the 98-02 brake hose mounts to the same spot on the frame
the tie rods can be reused, you need to thread the tie rods out about 1/4" to meet up with the 96-02 spindles, and you will definitely need a front end alignment

[mrltd]

Just remember to replace the locknuts on the upper shafts! And make sure to clean the washers of all rust on the side that contacts the bushings. I have the locknuts, and will sell 'em for 4 bucks shipped for all 4...

[gadget73]

I cheated and used locktite on mine but the locknuts are supposed to be replaced whenever they are removed otherwise they'll migrate off the shafts. I'm not sure how the loctite is holding up on mine, haven't checked it recently, but the new nuts are a very good idea.

[Lincolnmania]

how many locknuts you get mike? i'll take a bunch

[Blaze86Vic]

What does it take to get a 98-02 upper to work?

[Lincolnmania]

What does it take to get a 98-02 upper to work?

first you gotta cut the sleeve out of the center of the 96-02 bushings......remember now they bolt to the frame, they didnt have shafts
once you get the bushings burned out (leave the outer sleeves, the es bushings do not come with outer sleeves
remove the shaft from the box upper arm.......in the case of solid pi bushings, youll need a pr of civi shafts
to install the shafts in the 96-02 upper arms, you need to grind ever so slightly around the outsides of the bulge where the bolt hole goes......maybe 1/8" then the shaft will go in, and you can then install the es bushings......if you are going to use the 96-02 upper arms, you need the 92-97 pi bushing set (yes energy suspension is screwed up........the shaftless upper arms started in 1996 btw
i know these facts from several big brake swaps and many hrs examining panthers in the shop and in the junkyards

[xxslow50xx]

so on a scale 1-10 what is this front end swap it sounds a lot more complicated then the big brake swap on my fox body mustang which only required spindles and brakes and lower ball joints

[mrltd]

how many locknuts you get mike? i'll take a bunch

I bought a box of 25, that's the only amount they offered.