suspension overhaul

Hi, I have a '95 P.A. Ultra. I'm going to be replacing all 4 struts & springs - Monroe SensaTracs, I've decided. My question is: while I'm at it, what else should I replace. Are there any other parts related that tend to wear out, as well? Also, any advice on the removal & installation?

Thanks.

Good choice on the struts! Check your upper strut bearings on the front; you may want to replace them also. Check the tie rods and "A" arm bushings as well. The front is a little more complicated than the rear because you have to remove the springs from the strut; otherwise it is basically the same procedure.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=462398

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=462678

Just got done replacing all the struts on my 91 a few weeks ago. My advice:

buy the complete assemblies for the front struts. If youre planning to do it yourself, the preassembled struts are cake to install, while disassembling and reassembling the non-assembled struts is hard and dangerous.

I did mine the cheap way by buying the front struts not pre-assembled. First off, I took the first one off without compressing the spring. The damn thing flew apart fast and shot the top of the strut 10 feet into the air. Thank god it didnt hit me in the face. $30 and a couple of hours later I had a spring compressor tool to compress the spring and put it back together. But I couldnt put it back together. The damn bumper on the strut was worn down and no longer reusable. The dealer wanted $45 for a new bumper and the fifth local auto parts store finally had a suitable replacement for $16.

Moral: Buy the pre-assembled front struts.

The rear struts went relatively well, but I pulled out my shoulder muscle fighting the springs due to not installing the struts correctly the first time. Check out my thread for details (also linked by HotZ28, thanks :))

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=462398

edit: I forgot to detail my front strut experiences in that thread. Oh well, I'll probably do it during a lull at work next week.

Does anyone know how leaf springs are different from coil springs, and what the benefits are?

Never mind about the leaf springs... dumb question. My real question is... how do I check the upper strut bearings and tie rods?

The tie rods can be checked by jacking up the front tires off the ground and with both hands on the tire, try to move the wheel from side to side and watch for any play in the tie rod. There should not be any movement. The upper strut bearings can be inspected while you have the struts out. Turn the bearing to see if you feel any grinding or rough spots. Look inside to see if the ball bearings are rusted and the bearing is dry (no grease). If the balls are rusted or pitted and the bearing is dry, replace them.

Thanks so much. Are the upper strut bearings the same as the strut mount? Is the bearing part of the mount?

The bearing and strut mount are seperate parts. You can get everything in one kit from Advanced for about $37.00 each.

When doing strut replacements, it is important to do the complete job. This means not only replacing the struts but also inspecting and replacing worn strut mounts. Remember, worn strut mounts can adversely affect a vehicle's safety and handling.

Not only are strut mounts a necessary component of the suspension system, they consist of rubber to metal bonded parts that wear out over time as well. Worn bearings may also cause noise, steering binding, vibration and vehicle pull.

That's good to know. I wiggled the tires to check the tie rods just like you said, and there is a reasonable amount of play; not a ton, but some... is that normal?

Did you look at the tie rods while moving the tires from side to side? Actually you should not have any loose play in the front end. Was the movement you saw firm, or sloppy loose? Just 1/8 inch of loose movement will cause the front tires to wander while driving. If you are uncertain of your findings, have a reputable front end shop inspect it before you do the work. Be sure to inspect the ball joints also. The front end will have to be aligned after strut replacement anyway. If you replace all four struts you can have the four wheel alignment done at the same time.
:cya: