Handling Mods

[Lincolnmania]

Dude, I think that we have some sort of misunderstanding here. I'm guessing that the control arms for boxes were obsoleted some time ago, meaning that installing new bushings is likely the only option when rebuilding the suspension. However, for my '96, new control arms are easy to come by, wether you want NOS or aftermarket.
Due to time constraints, I decided to purchase and install OEM-spec control arm ASSEMBLIES, complete with new bushings and ball joints. That's why I wrote: "A good suspension rebuild can go a LONG way." I was not specifically saying Colin should buy new arms; it is just what I did for MY car as part of the rebuild process.

And since the topic of brakes was brought up...Colin, if you wind up rebuilding your front suspension, I gotta recommend that you do the big brake upgrade at the same time. It's worth it. :headbang: Although, admittedly, it is a lot easier to install on a '95-97 than on a box....

-Rob

PS: If anyone's interested, you can see what I did with the front suspension Here.

the upper arm bushings are easilly replaceable and dirt cheap.....waste of money buying new arms if you ask me

[theredlineboss]

I guess that I should expect being questioned like this, since I'm a n00b again. At any rate, when it comes to replacement parts, I'm a bargain hunter. In fact, I've been gathering these parts for about 2 years.

Generally speaking, it IS a big waste o’ money to buy new arms. Looking at NAPA and PartsAmerica, you are looking at costs averaging around 200 bux per arm. If that were the price that I *had* to pay for new components, I’d have rebuilt the original arms...or bought a better car.

However, I was able to purchase the upper control arms for about $50 each. Yes, these are easy to remove and stuff, but that's close enough to the cost of bushings and ball joints for me to spring for the new stuff.
The lowers cost quite a bit more. I cannot say that I saved any money here, but honestly, I did not want to deal with rebuilding them. When I found a place that had them for $115/ea + shippping, I took it. I might've been able to get them cheaper, but my front suspension began making bad noises, so it was time to move.

I know that the arms themselves were physically fine. Convenience was the reason for this, 100%. However, I don't think it was as big of a waste of money as you may initially believe. And since I didn't want to install poly bushings, and I was satsified w/ OEM-style balljoints, there was even less reason for me to rebuild the components myself.

As for the LCA's, they are basically the same from 1979-2002, as you said. The differences lie in the bushings and balljoints, not the arm itself. P71interceptor.com explains the differences pretty well.

-Rob

[85crownHPP]

The convinience of having fresh parts ready to slap back in holds high value to the weekend warrior... plus not everyone has the facility to press ball joints and bushings.
Considering the good price on the loaded uppers I can't see whay anyone would say he didnt do the "right" thing :p

[Archangel]

Oh yeah, since he got them so cheap tis a deal for sure, tis regular list price that makes them not really worthy. But hey, either way it worked for him, and like you said convenience factor is a great motivator for parts purchase.

[torquelover]

Colin, did you catch any of this hijacked thread? Actually good info here, not just all of us talking about dinner, Star Trek, or Elvis...

[1987cp]

I just got a PM from Colin yesterday ... guess he hadn't been on GMN at all in quite a while.

One thing I'm thinking about since I have the stock rear bar off the P72 temporarily, is to yank the aftermarket rear bar from the wagon and see how cheaply I can whittle up the brackets necessary to mount it to the stock swaybar mounting holes.

:cutit: