Quote:
Originally Posted by kghjr
Thanks, Matthew, this is what I mean about this being an awesome forum.
Anyone want to give their 2¢ on tips for removing the front suspension? It's ready...I'm not, but then I was not ready for the rear suspension either.
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Ken, I typically drop a front suspension whole but you may want to remove the struts first and then drop the A-arms and crossmember as a complete unit.
As a 69E, your car would have come from the factory with Boge hydro-pneumatic struts but those were probably replaced in 1971; my guess is you'll have later Boge struts in there now that are held to the ball joint with a beveled pin. First remove the tie rod end castle nuts and use a pickle fork to separate the tie rod from the strut arm. Then at the base of the strut, loosen the nut (13mm) on the pin and bring it out to the end of the threads. Use a punch and tap out the pin, throw the pin away. They can be pretty well seized so sometimes heat is needed on the strut knuckle that the pin tightens. Once the pin is out use a pickle fork to separate the strut from the ball joint. Again, heat may be needed to convince the strut it no longer wants anything to do with the ball joint.
If the strut has a hex recess at the top, insert an allen key and use a 22mm wrench to loosen the nut. Carefully hold the strut so it doesn't fall. You can also just remove the 3 allen head bolts and drop the strut with the mount. Given that the A-arms are coming out, you'll have to do an alignment anyway.
the A-arms and crossmember are easiest to drop as a unit and then easy to remove the arms from the crossmember on a bench. Just remember to unbolt to the steering rack from the crossmember. Do front of arms first and then the buttresses/stays and then the main bolt on each side of the crossmember. You may need to tap it with a mini-sledge to free it from the body.