My '95 Caprice Classic STW, "Sally"

[DerekTheGreat]

The front shocks are popo spec Gabriel Proguards, definitely not the cheap end of things. Hecho en Mexico (which I would put above china,taiwan etc.).

Cheapie coating then, although I'm not sure what the cost of running 866 is. It's better than straight Rustoleum, but not by much.

Sell customers "Service Intervals" and they'll be more likely to buy into "Planned Obsolescence."

[Arquemann]

It has taken over 6 hours over two days to get the borked control arm replaced, mostly due to a lack of fucks to give and because violence gets kinda tiresome.
The control arm might be original at 366k KM (though a bit doubtful), bushings were cracked and a bit collapsed, ball joint was alright (genuine GM), but the boot was more like a greasy, filthy, crumbling rubber donut. Control arm has two layers of undercoating on it, in the spring pocket there was a fair bit of rust flaking (and the ripped off shock mount ears, but otherwise the control arm was very solid metal.

Unbelievably, the control arm bolts loosened up with a swift kick and the bolt threads and shanks inside the bushing sleeves had ZERO rust on them.
And that was the only part of the job that was easy.


Also found that the bottom of the spring had about 2/3rds of the flat bottom coil broken off. By law, I should be replacing a broken spring, and springs should be replaced in pairs. And yet again, my fuck budget hath runneth dry, so I just clocked the spring so its hard to see the broken end of the spring.

New control arm, new end link, old shock, 2/3rds of a coil less and a pile of rust, dirt and undercoating making a considerable pile on the ground. Also tightened the bolts on the oil filter housing, as it leaks.
Car's still on the ramps after torquing the control arm bolts, tomorrow I'll change the other end link and change the oil (I might've dumped a small bottle of trans additive into the wrong dipstick).

[Arquemann]

Pass. side sway bar end link removal tool of (no) choice was a reciprocating saw. Fun.

The new ball joint was awfully stiff initially, first drive I had to really move the steering wheel back and forth with effort, wouldn't return to center at all. Now it's a bit better, but I think the new arm screwed the alignment and toe, the on-center steering is completely out the window now. Add an alignment onto the to-do list...

[sly]

Usually after adding grease to the ball joint, they loosen up nicely. If it's one of those sealed for life versions (no grease port), then Bah.

[Arquemann]

Why is it always me? Why do I almost always encounter stupid problems no matter how simple the task at hand? Wrong parts rarely fit and now neither do the right parts!
Started the front brake job, got the driver side new rotor on, parts greased up and I can't get the caliper to slide onto the rotor. Bottomed out the piston with a brake caliper tool and still no dice.
Some cleanup and cursing later, I come to the conclusion that the new brake pads are too thick.

Did some reading and apparently "heavy duty" brake calipers are slightly wider for use with thicker HD pads. My car has the RPO JM4 option for HD brakes, so naturally I had bought HD spec pads. Someone at some point in the car's life has replaced the front calipers and used the (wrong) standard calipers. And that's why my HD pads don't fit. For fucks sake!

[sly]

That's some of my luck right there. There's an ongoing theory in my family that we are cursed to grab the broken item off the shelf at the store. Very typical for me to get home, install something and the new part be bad or wrong. Worst part was on the 82 Mark VI, the parts listings show the fox body part instead of the panther part for wheel bearings. I had to take the whole hub assembly in to the store to get the jackass behind the counter to understand that it's a damn panther and not a fox body car and their parts listings are wrong and so are Ford's. So the next time I needed some suspension related parts for that Lincoln, I just asked for 88 model Grand Marquis parts. Fit right and worked.

[Arquemann]

New pads bought and installed, front brake job done. Alignment scheduled for the 11th. Needs a wash, a wax, a vacuum and a general refresh.
Then ol' Fat Sally is going up for sale, no way around it.