Front suspension rebuild

[ososbob]

I didn't have a problem with the A-Arms removal, luckily so far with this car I have not had too much trouble. My only suggestion would be, get a ball joint removal tool. I have used one from sears, fork type. It does damage the rubber on the ball joint on removal. But I would assume you would replace them anyway. I used a air hammer to remove the bushings. By the way I try to post new pics on my progress fairly often.

Bob

[basarabam]

I have a couple questions if you dont mind.

I ordered new lower and upper A arms also. I wanted to get everything off and ready for the new arms when they get here this week.

First I stopped at Advanced and got their coil compressor, the one that goes inside the spring. I was sure I read that was the one to use for the front and the strut compressor for the back or nothing for the back if I can let all the weight off the rear end suspension. I think they might have left part of it out of the box since there was no way for me to tighten it. The bottom clamps just slide on the threaded rod, there was no nut to keep this from moving. Am I right there is supposed to be a nut between the 2 clamps to keep the bottom one in place?

So I decide I can get this, I just take the nuts off the lower A arm and get inside the motor compartment and smack the lower arm where it sticks out and it all popped out. My springs look pretty rusty, I might have to end up replacing them after all. UGH! More money.

So now everything except the upper arm is out. The nut comes right off with no issue. The other side turns pretty easy. I leave the nut on and start tapping on it to get it to slide out. It doesnt even flinch. I think, hmmm maybe it is threaded. I turn on the bolt but it never moves. Am I missing something getting this out??

Also, there is a bolt going through the outside behind where the bottom of the spring would be. It looks like the bolt that holds the cross member in. Not real close to it but in that area there are some areas rusted out. Has anyone fixed this before? Not sure what I could do besides take the bolt out, cut a piece of flat plate, weld it in there and undercoat it or something. Ideas??

[4uall]

Hi Matthew & everybody else
Any chance of any photos? I am going to be following in your footsteps having also just purchased the A arm kit. I know you will get lots of good advice & guidance on the forum

[basarabam]

So I was so excited today! Got the parts for my new suspension...



Yep real excited till I seen THIS!!!!





My review, dont buy these from Vick's! I would feel safer with the broken A arm than with these. They will not tighten down properly and the nuts are rubbing right against the boots!!! I was told the holes are "Slightly" off and that starting the bolts would make them line up or bend the flange to match.......ummmm wtf...

Off that and onto what I was asking earlier.

Here is the rust I was talking about... I am going to cut a piece of flat steel and weld it in and then replace the cross member bolt.



I still cant get the upper A Arm bolt out. Any help PLEASE?!

[RRoller123]

Can you post a pic of the upper bolt situation? Crazy that it won't come out. Mine tapped out easily.

[basarabam]

Not sure what it was but after the day I have had I decided a BFH was my best option. I beat the hell out of it and I got it.

[4uall]

My review, dont buy these from Vick's! I would feel safer with the broken A arm than with these. They will not tighten down properly and the nuts are rubbing right against the boots!!! I was told the holes are "Slightly" off and that starting the bolts would make them line up or bend the flange to match.......ummmm wtf...

this makes me very nervous as I too ordered mine from Vick's Looks like I will have to wait and see

Follow up

Okay, had a bit of a delay with our Jeep breaking down on the hwy buying a new car (see signature below and some school plays tried to get back on track today only to find out that the parts I ordered from http://www.vickauto.com/newstore/ are apparently NOT the correct parts I even called and was re-assured when there were rumors floating around that these were not Fiat parts etc. Well, looks like I have learned a life lesson today

Original upper A arm and new from Vick's
(new one had issues with bolt hole line up



New lower shock support does not fit SOB!

THANKS VICKS, I LOVE BUYING "FIAT 124 PARTS" THAT DO NOT WORK/FIT



Putting the frustration aside, I was able to push the bolt sleeve through and cut off the excess to make the shocks fit. Needless to say I will be taking my business elsewhere

[giuliot60]

I was looking to buy those "A" arms too. Did Matthew from Vick's say that? They usually have good parts.

[basarabam]

Yes I talked to Matt at Vick's. If you ordered the 1 instead of the 2 you are in for a fun install. I asked specifically if there was a difference in quality and was flat out told no.

Its fine. I dont want to be too hard on them but these A-Arms are terrible. I have spent a few thousand $$ there in the last 2 years and to see this kind of quality from them and no heads up on it was to me a deal breaker. In their defense Matt sent another email after I got really upset about these and said he would send me a different set with the ball joints installed, which was great of them. Problem is I have to have my suspension together before Saturday cuz I have someone coming for me to pull the 350 out of their truck and put another in and I cant afford not to make that $1000 from them.

This has really gone off topic though, it should be about the install of these parts not a vendor bash, so I am not saying another word about it.

[djape1977]

as i have suspected for years, some (most) vendors sell parts for LADA as parts for fiat 124. in most cases it's not a problem, but when it comes to balljoints and suspension arms, that's what you get. here you have a case of fiat A-arm VS lada balljoint.
funniest thing is that you all pay crazy prices for cheap lada parts.

if you wanted to go that way, you could install LADA A-arm and LADA balljoint and pay around 25$ for the lot.

[vandor]

as i have suspected for years, some (most) vendors sell parts for LADA as parts for fiat 124. in most cases it's not a problem, but when it comes to balljoints and suspension arms, that's what you get.

Most vendors DO NOT sell Lada a-arms or balljoints!!!!! There is still one Italian manufacturer that makes a-arms, VEMA, and both IAP and us carry those arms. They are expensive to buy and to import due to their weight, but it's the only choice as far as we are concerned. They have the manufacturer's stamp and manufacture date on the arms, and are made in Italy.

[djape1977]

i said vendors, not "vendor" so i was not reffering to you or anyone specifically.

by the way, boltholes spacing on LADA balljoints is 3mm bigger than on 124 A-arms. therefore, here we have a case of balljoint with a fiat 124 boltholes spacing and A-arm with Lada boltholes.

prove me wrong

by the way, if i was to make a list of parts from lada that are straight bolt on to fiat 124 you'd be amazed. just to mention, for example, fuel tank: one from lada 2102 and 2104 (station wagon) is THE SAME as on 124 spider.

upper A-arms are exactly the same apart from bolt holes spacing

lower ones are diferent when it comes to shock absorber mount but that can be modifyed in 15 minutes and a lick of black paint later noone would be any wiser. that is untill it came to bolt holes for balljoint

ALL suspension bushings are exactly the same

rear suspension trailing arms are the same

propshaft U-joints, bearing and guibo are the same

should i go on revealing the obvious fact that the emperor is naked?

[vandor]

i said vendors, not "vendor" so i was not reffering to you or anyone specifically.

I did not mean to sound like I am attacking you, I just do not want people to think that what is pictured is what all the vendors sell.
Yes, since the Lada was Fiat 124 based a lot of parts will fit. Of course there are many manufacturers making Lada parts, some making good parts, some making junk.

[manoa matt]

Are you aware the three bolt holes are not exactly 120 deg apart, but are esentric. Try rotating that ball joint and see if you can get the holes to line up.

Edit: reviewed the picture again, nope, won't fit. Return them. Autoricambi.com

[djape1977]

i said vendors, not "vendor" so i was not reffering to you or anyone specifically.

I did not mean to sound like I am attacking you, I just do not want people to think that what is pictured is what all the vendors sell.
Yes, since the Lada was Fiat 124 based a lot of parts will fit. Of course there are many manufacturers making Lada parts, some making good parts, some making junk.

unfortunately, most are making junk.
for example, ball joint poping out is a well known problem...