5speedz34 Posted August 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 Got my struts and my waterpump in today. Should be getting the ball joint, axle, wheel bearing, and alternator tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted August 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 UPDATE!!! I'm installing the knuckle on the side that the ball joint broke on. I think the strut is bent. Here are the pics. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v291/5speedz34/?action=view¤t=1219871910.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v291/5speedz34/?action=view¤t=1219871907.jpg What do you think? It's about a 1 1/2" forward of the control arm. I installed the ball joint and it seemed really put stress on the ball joint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 how does the top of the strut look? The upper seat, and even the strut tower itself? When the balljoint fails, that area receives a LOT of bending stress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted August 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 Looks fine to me. I have a 96-97 Monte Carlo strut here. I'm going to see if that can tell me whether its bent or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted August 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 OK. I put the 96 monte carlo strut in. It sits pretty much right above the ball joint. I wouldn't have to move it very much to get it in place. The top strut mount does have a different angle on the '94 then the 96 does. The rest of it looks fine. I'm not sure what to do. Should I see I can get a new mount or what?! Should I just look for another strut mount? http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v291/5speedz34/?action=view¤t=1219876015.jpg ^PIC! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 Here, I think this explains it the best. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v291/5speedz34/?action=view¤t=1219871910.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v291/5speedz34/?action=view¤t=1219871907.jpg ^That is the original strut. That is where it sat after I bolted it to the unibody. Is their chance I could have moved the strut bearing plate the wrong way? I'm pretty sure its toast. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v291/5speedz34/?action=view¤t=1219876015.jpg ^This is the '96 knuckle. Does this look better? It pretty much sits right above the control arm. I need to push it towards the engine to seat on the ball joint right. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v291/5speedz34/?action=view¤t=1219885070.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v291/5speedz34/?action=view¤t=1219885075.jpg ^I had to beat on the control arm to get the ball joint back out. On the bottom right corner, I dented the control arm. Will that be a problem? Also is that "washer" where the ball joint seats isn't circular, is that right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 Basically I think the '96 is fitting that way since the control arm is totally at its lowest point and has no weight on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted August 28, 2008 Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 yeah just use the '96 strut assembly, everything *looks* fine here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 The only problem is it's got the bigger brakes. Sooo I'm going to have to find one at a yard tomorrow that has the smaller brakes. What about the control arm pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted August 28, 2008 Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 TONY! I think... YOU HAVE A BENT SHOCK!!!! your knuckle may be ok. my 91 international had a bent shock on the front right, where the car was hit, smashing in the fender and door. INSPECT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 How do I inspect? I'm replacing the struts. The upper strut mount is bent I'm sure. I don't want to tear it down and find out its actually bent. I think I'm just going to get a good junkyard knuckle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted August 28, 2008 Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 after a long talk with Tony.... too long. LOL ... I think he is mistaking uneven spring pressure on the top plate for a bent strut. He has posted pictures here you go. "bent" "unbent" i told him to: replace the damaged new balljoint, stick strut in car, put top of strut through top holes, screw the bolts on part way, (allows for play) get the balljoint in the hole of the control arm, (TONY, grease the hole in the control arm) and tighten the balljoint nut "finger tight", compress the strut with a floor jack under the control arm, (not under the balljoint) watch to see if the top plate straightens out. Does it? if it seems okay... just tighten the nuts, and tighten the balljoint bolt to TORQUE SPECS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 I'm getting a junkyard strut and transferring the spring. I've lost a day because of the rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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