Started on the suspension and brakes

[LOAF]

What a pain, just started to work the old suspension.. and brakes..

I just dropped the front control arms, sway bar, spindles and struts..

A while back I had purchased a few things that I am finally installing.. having fun, but challenging.

Here is what will be going in..

Since its a 73 doing the late SB upgrade.. 78 front control arms, with toplines camber bolts. Coupled to this is a topline swaybar and poly bushings. At each corner I have porsche 944 brakes, just the single pot, nothing fancy with some new rotors and hawk pads. I have a 944 M/C that will be going in place of the old SB M/C. Just in case I do have a new SB M/C. As far as suspension, Topline again, with the Max struts assembly. I need to make the hole larger as Superman mentioned, but not sure if its the top or bottom hole that I need to elongate, and if its elongated to one side only?

Got some SS brake lines that will go on, also...

Lot to go, only put the control arm, camber bolts and swaybar..

I need to swap stearing tie rods, and from investigating, sounds like I need to change the stearing dampener..

Got plenty of questions also, which I will address tomorrow.. but overall very excited.. its been a while since I was able to play with the SB.. I will post some pictures..

Once I finish the front I will switch to the rear.. where I got some late alum arms to put in.. but I need to buy the tool to remover the rear trailing arms..

Tomorrow should be fun, I need to swap the top strut mounts from one set of struts to the other, elongate the hole, and mount my struts..
So that is it for now.. figured I post progress...
Loaf..

73 SB saloooooooon.
Vert on hold...

[super vw]

Sounds sweet, i went through the same deal a year ago. (car not complete though).
For the rear I found it easy to get that 17mm socket bolt out(the huge one on the inside) with a low profile 17mm 3/8 drive drain plug socket (Snap on makes a nice one, about $17 bucks).

Sounds like you having fun!

Jonathan

[LOAF]

Arrrrr.. Bad day..

Took the max struts to have the top strut mounts swapped.. 78 to 73.. and the idiot over tightened the locking nut and broke my strut insert.. broke the nut right off the threads..

Now I am so pissed I just walked out since I was going to hit the guy with the good strut..

Called topline but they are closed.. does anyone know the price of the insert.. as well as what to use to do the job myself.. The typical auto zone spring compressors don't work..

Also back in the day I used a macpherson strut tool to tighten the top nut.. had some funny sockets, and used this small socket looking thing.. can't seem to find it online.. thought it was from snap on..

HELP HELP.. before I go kill someone..

IF anyone has suggestions on how to address this with the shop let me know..



Alex

For now everything is at a halt..

[super vw]

Bummer! Well, the best spring compressor i have used is a wall mount type. A good shop SHOULD have this tool. If not, i have done it with the cheap clamp on compressors (kinda unsafe, but not if your carefull).
For the top nut, you can somtimes get them off and back on with a impact gun... you have to give strong short bursts of power till its snug, then give it another one or two bursts Dont over do it... maybe thats how it busted the first time) otherwise you will need somesort of socket that will allow you to hold the insert as you turn the nut (a socket with a window cut out of one side works (they do make them, but not sure who)

Be patient... **** happens

Jonathan