Front suspension help.

[Panko]

Hi,
Im having trouble putting my front suspension back in my Mk1. I tried it a couple of ways, including the way my workshop manual described. everything seems too tight to fit back in.
My issue is, I spray painted the sway bar, and now not sure if i might have it upside down (which i don't think i do) but i am struggling to get the control arms and sway bar in.

so could someone please post a pic of a sway bar installed? the pics in my workshop manual is not clear enough to tell.

Also, can someone post a comparison pic of MK1 and MK2 struts?

[ozstang65]

On standard suspension it is not uncommon to need to pull the 2 arms of the swaybar together to get everything to fit. A decent sized ratchet tie-down comes in handy for this.

[Panko]

which way do u suggest putting it all back in?

my idea was to put the control arms in first, then trying slot the sway bar in after...

but my workshop manual suggested putting sway bar in, fitting control arms to the sway bar, then put the control arms up into the front cross member.

also, how do you have an extra sway bar mount? did u add that in?

[jsa]

Either way works with a ratchet strap.

My preference is TCA's then swaybar, as the TCA inner bolt is difficult once the bar is twisting the TCA around.

[ozstang65]

Here's the anti-dive setup, but you don't need to go that far for street use. Even for mild track use it's not absolutely necessary.

As far as putting your suspension back in goes there's a couple of ways to go about it.

First method, you will need a way to pull the 2 sides of the swaybar towards each other. I use a large ratchet tie-down, once i actually used a block and tackle to do this as I had nothing else on hand. Firstly hang the struts, with the lower control arms attached, from the inner guards. Fit the swaybar through the lower control arm bushes (not overly tightly). At this stage you could probably bolt one of the lower control arm inner bushes to the crossmember, then pull the swaybar sides together until you can get the other lower control arm inner bush into the crossmember. Lastly bolt up the front swaybar bushes and tighten the rear ones.

[ozstang65]

Or you could put the struts and lower control arms in, then squeeze the swaybar together with the ratchet strap and install it in the lower control arms. Lastly bolt it up to the front mounts.

Another method that i once used: Install lower control arms and swaybar first. This is possible, but the lower control arms will be almost horizontal to achieve this. Then hang the struts from the inner guards. Lastly get a long bar, put it on top of the swaybar and under the chassis rail, push down until you can get the strut over the lower control arm balljoint.

[Panko]

ok yer definitely don't need the anti dive kit, looks great though :)

well I'm starting with the struts in, because i didn't want to do the brakes just yet, so i left them in while i took the rest out. i now have a fair idea of how I'm going to do it, its all running through my head as i picture it in my mind. (probably won't sleep tonight now hahaha)

i hope i get it done this weekend, cos this w/e is really my last chance. the poor esky has to go to its new home by the end of next week, and weekends being my only time to work on it, this weekend is it to get it finished. If not...i don't know how ill go getting it on a trailer to move her again

[Miniliteman]