Supspension Upgrade, order of operations

[na2ub]

I am upgrading my T bars, front and back, including new ER rubber bushings, and sending ER my Bilsteins for rebuild. What is the easiest order of operations? Currently I have ordered and received my new front T bars and bushings.

Can I replace all the Tbars and bushings, then get the shocks rebuilt? Can the car sit without shocks? Tell me the easiest order for me to do this work.

Thanks,
Doug

[Flieger]

The best, fastest way is all at once. You will only need one alignment and corner balance then. You will save on the labor costs of taking stuff back off that was just put together new. More costly at one time but if you save up, it is less expensive ultimately.

[arbita1]

I agree. I think you need to do t-bars, shocks, and sways all at the same time. The car won't ride right unless you do that, and like Flieger said, you definitely only want to do an alignment/corner balance once...unless you have cash to waste.

When I rebuilt my suspension, my car sat on jack stands for almost the whole summer. Kind of sucked, but it was the price of an upgraded suspension.

[Superman]

Shocks do not suspend a car. Springs do that. Shocks simply prevent suspension parts from moving quickly. So.....your car COULD sit on its wheels while the shocks are being rebuilt. But that's not gonna happen because at the moment when the shocks have been removed, the your suspension will be partly disassembled and you won't want to reassemble until the shocks are back in your garage.

Best to just remove the shocks first, get them on their way to Bilstein, then tackle the T-bar and bushing work. By the time you're done, your shocks may be back.

[MysticLlama]

Shocks take a while to get back in the summertime, but that just means you can take your time on the rest.

I'd just put it on jackstands, pull the shocks, send them off, then work on the rest as you wait for them to get back. Don't bother trying to put it back down and let it sit, there isn't really a point unless you really forsee having to slowly roll it around for some reason.

For mine, since I knew it was going to take a while to get them rebuilt, I just bought 4 used shocks to send off to be rebuilt, and now I figure I'll sell mine at the swap meet or something now that they are swapped.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

I assume you don't have unlimited funds and/or time.

Step 1 T bars and associated parts, like bushings you mention but also ball joints and camber plates etc.

Get this stuff on the car and get everything aligned and corner balanced. It will drive better but not great. So enjoy it. Get used to making suspension adjustments, start a log book.

Then, when you are ready take a look at shocks and bump steer. Align and balance the car, sure you just did it 6 months ago but you are learning and getting better at it. The car will drive better but not great.

Next sway bars. Same as before. Install, measure, check, adjust, learn. Car is getting better but there's still more to be had.