Front Suspension Issues with pics.

[Slykin]

As the title says, I'm having some suspension issues that i'm not sure where they originated from. My DS balljoint started going out this week so I decided to take a good look at my suspension and now i'm sorta puzzled. This is what I found. This is all on the driver's side, everything checks out fine on the passenger side (mainly why i'm puzzled).

This swaybar end link on has about 5k miles on it.. the other side is stock or at least real old and looks great.

Here is the swaybar bushing.. also only bad on the driver side.

The steering rack bushing is also only bulging out on the driver's side.

Now, the only theory I can come up with as to why it's all only bad on the driver's side is because I replaced the passenger's side balljoint a while back and not the driver's side. I don't know if the slop from the bad balljoint is causing everything else to go bad or visa versa. Maybe I somehow only make left turns into driveways, idk. Any theories would be great, I do plan on replacing all the stuff anyways though. Just thought this was odd. Oh one more picture.

Any suggestions for this? Idiot owner before me did this :angry7:

 

[piperpilotduane]

For Radiator: remove it and slowly bend the lower mount back level. Test fit radiatr and bend until it sits level with no binding of the top mounts. The way it is, stress can crack your lovely Aluminum radiator.

 

[Slykin]

For Radiator: remove it and slowly bend the lower mount back level. Test fit radiatr and bend until it sits level with no binding of the top mounts. The way it is, stress can crack your lovely Aluminum radiator.

I guess that's about the only option I have unless I replace the whole radiator support. Not sure how i'm going to pull that straight down by itself though. Think ratcheting it down to a hook in the floor would work good enough?

 

[CC'S95GT]

For the Rad support, take a 3' 2x4 and a BFH and drive it down from the top.

Bushings failing on the driver side, did you have a brake fluid or Power steering fluid leak?
Some rubber is not compatable with all fluids.

 

[Slykin]

For the Rad support, take a 3' 2x4 and a BFH and drive it down from the top.

Bushings failing on the driver side, did you have a brake fluid or Power steering fluid leak?
Some rubber is not compatable with all fluids.

As far as I know, I haven't had one. My fluid levels never seem to change. Looks like the front end's going to get all torn apart this week I guess.

 

[Win]

What about your Hub bearings have you checked them?

 

[Slykin]

What about your Hub bearings have you checked them?

They feel fine as far as driving, but no, I've never pulled my bearings and checked them.

 

[95PGTTech]

With the amount of decay in that front rad support, I'd just replace it. It's a one day job with pretty much a how to in my build thread.

 

[Slykin]

With the amount of decay in that front rad support, I'd just replace it. It's a one day job with pretty much a how to in my build thread.

I'm assuming it's riveted in and you just weld it back? That's definitely not a problem and i've seriously thought about replacing it already. I just can't have this thing down too long because my backup car gets 12mpg and isn't super reliable haha. Time to find your build thread.

 

[95PGTTech]

eBay - yes, you are correct, spot welded. Drill them out, tack weld new one back on.

http://sn95forums.com/index.php?topic=37575.0

 

[Slykin]

eBay - yes, you are correct, spot welded. Drill them out, tack weld new one back on.

http://sn95forums.com/index.php?topic=37575.0

You got yours off ebay? And thanks for the info, hopefully I can get this all done within the week if I can get a radiator support soon enough. That and getting my dad to help out with the welding.

 

[95PGTTech]

Yes. It was a bit "lighter" than the stock one, probably a gauge or two thinner metal, but worked fine, took paint well. Example link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RADI...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[Insayne]

i also have to replace my rad support and my headlight header panel. my only issue is i dont have a spare ride so i have to do everything in a weekend.

 

[Slykin]

i also have to replace my rad support and my headlight header panel. my only issue is i dont have a spare ride so i have to do everything in a weekend.

I'm not 100% sure if i'm replacing mine, I think i'll drop the radiator first and see if it's salvageable. Luckily I have my dad's 66 Fairlane to drive back and forth to school though. So I guess there's that lol.

 

[Insayne]

Yeah lucky!

 

[Slykin]

As long as I don't die driving the fairlane, it literally has about 3 inches of play in the steering, you can grab one front wheel and the other front wheel will feel all floppy. It's sad lol.

 

[95PGTTech]

i also have to replace my rad support and my headlight header panel. my only issue is i dont have a spare ride so i have to do everything in a weekend.

easily accomplished. the header panel comes out for the radiator support anyhow.

 

[Slykin]

Well, I just thought i'd let you guys know I got the sway bar bushings/end link bushings/ balljoint replaced and it feels like a complete night and day difference. Radiator support has yet to be fixed, but at least it drives tons better now. Still need to put in the steering rack bushings and one tie-rod though.

 

[vermilion]

having blown out strut can cause that issue too.

 

[Slykin]

having blown out strut can cause that issue too.

I don't think that's the problem, but, how can you tell you have a blown strut? I'd think it'd be fairly obvious but I've never had any real major stuff fail on me. They are fairly tough to compress by hand which makes me think they're fine. I might be throwing some bilstein coil-overs in sometime in the next month anyways...