66 Belvedere Front Suspension rebuild - special tools?

[mustbemad]

Hi!

Planning to rebuild the front, and see that the service manual mentions lots of special tools. I've rebuilt lots of different front set ups, and have always been able to come up with something to take the place of 'special tools.' First time on a Mopar though - are any really essential?

Thanks!

Gerry

 

[1970GTX]

Mancini Racing sells them all. Either as a set or individually. You could probably get by without them, especially if you are experienced with front end stuff. The step which seems to cause the most grief are removing the lower control arm bushing inner shell. Mancini has a great tool for that. You will need or have to make up a torsion bar removal tool if you plan to re use your original torsion bars. The rest is basic and all you'll really need is a press.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Upper ball joint socket and a good torque wrench besides what has already been mentioned.

 

[1970GTX]

X2 on the upper ball joint socket, forgot that one.

 

[mustbemad]

Thanks!

Socket seems to be the one that is toughest to do without, so ebay here I come! Unfortunately over here it's not the sort of thing you can drop into your local garage and borrow for a 'drink.' (Slang for a few quid for the guy who lends it to you ;))

Thanks for your help

Gerry

 

[lynchroad]

Here you find complete instructions step by step , including Pictures.

www.moparmax.com search "archives Tech", scroll to 2011 for : "torsionbar,front susp. part 1 & 2

 

[YY1]

The only special tools I needed for my 66 Coronet were the ball joint socket and a press.

 

[mustbemad]

Thanks! Socket somewhere in a plane over the Atlantic, and step by step guide printed off!

Perfect!

Gerry

 

[miller]

If you don't have anything to get the torsion bars out, this might help...

First know, there is a right and left. They need to go back, the same as they come out.

Find a block of aluminum, big enough to split, and clamp around the bar. Drill a hole larger than the bar, and two holes at opposite angle, each side of the bar hole. Then cut the block in half, right through the bar hole. Your making a clamping tool, like the normal one used. Face the surfaces you cut spliting the block, enough to create a clamping effect. Drill and tap the two smaller holes, so the block halves can be bolted together. You also need enough 'hang' material on the block to hammer on. (Use a plastic hammer.)

Main reason I'm bringing this up...the aluminum won't do any damage to the bars. The bars surface is shot-peened, and you want to keep 'em in good shape. You can also use that same tool to put the bars back in. Your info will probably show a pic of that tool.

 

[Cranky]

Besides the upper ball joint socket, I also have various homemade tools to help press the bushings and 'had' a torsion bar tool until it was loaned out to a 'buddy' and it never came back and he acted like he didn't know what I was talking about when asked about it.