Its Suspension Time!, anyone with tips tricks? Options

[cha914]

Starting friday I will be pulling the suspension off the 914 and

- installing Koni sports all around with the fully adj perches in the rear

-new poly bushings all around (from weltmeister...street compound)

-turbo tie rod kit

-new ball joints

...anyway...this is the last part of the 914 that I haven't pulled off the car yet, so its time. any, tips, hints that you have will be much appreciated. I am going to be doing this with the help of a lift and plenty of tools...so I am hoping to knock this out over the weekend...doable?

Thanks,

Tony

[Brad Roberts]

Here is how to get the ball joint out of the struts.

Use the torsion bars.

Pull the pin out of the bottom of the strut.

With the car on jackstands, place youre floorjack under the brake rotor hub.. not the actual rotor. Jack it up until you just start to see the car come off the jack stands. NOW. Hit the control arm with a 3lb sledge right next too the ball joint. The spring tension of the torsion bars and the 3lb sledge will have the control arm out of the strut very quickly. Remember that you can twist the struts out of your way.. you will have plenty of room to swing the hammer. I personally use a air chisel with a blunt end on it.

Please dont think anything will fly apart. You are just barely using the torsion bar tension to help with this (the full weight of the car is not on it)

This works. Dont let anybody tell you it doesnt. I leave the struts in the car and pull the control arms off the car. I then put the control arms back on the car and reassemble everything when I get the new bushings/bearings and torsion bars in them. THEN I do the shocks. I never completely remove the strut assemblies.

There is also NO need to remove the steering rack bolts. I only loosen the two large 19mm bolts that hold the rack in.. I dont even remove the splash shield unless I'm doing Turbo Tie rods.

B