Front end(replacing parts)

[Project77]

im wanting to buy the parts and everything this weekend and was wondering what parts were all included on the front end(want to replace everything)

ball joints
tie rods
wheel bearings
and what else should i change? hint everything on there has been on there for 35 years so i want to show it a little bit of love what tools do i need in order to replace all these parts?

[Project77]

my truck is a
1977, Chevrolet, C10, Stock Height, Long Wheel Base, Single Cab, Silverado, 350 motor, th350 tranny, 2 Wheel Drive, Front Brakes(Disc), Rear Brakes(Drum) i think thats enough info if not just ask i dont know what else i can give you haha

[lilpoindexter]

Control arm bushings
Inner Tie rods
Idler arm
Pitman arm...
You'll need a "GOOD" (not made in china POS) pitman arm puller, and you'll need some sort of press to pop out the old control arm bushings, and put new ones in. I'd have a back up car for getting to work on Monday, as these type of projects quickly get out of hand and end up taking 2/3/4.. weekends.

I replaced all the bushings and joints on my '78 last year when I dropped it...and everything was still in good shape thanks to the greaseable zerks, and the mild CA climate.

[old Rusty C10]

if you look up dorman products you can get complete new control arms with the ball joints and bushings already in there.. youll need wheel bearings inner and outer and grease seals , cotterpins, inner and outer tie rod ends , an idler arm pitman arm tie rod sleeves and shocks . For tools youll need a 3/8 and half inch drive set of sockets a ball joint fork a pitman arm puller wheel bearing grease and tubed grease in a gease gun and a baby sledge hammer

[RandyP]

Don't skimp and buy the house brand junk at the parts store, get the quality stuff like MOOG if you're going to do it. Otherwise, you'll probably regret it. I really want to say when we did my 87, by the time we got all the pieces (we did brakes at the same time) I had about $700 worth of receipts from O'Reillys.

[pwtr02ss]

check rockauot.com prices against your local parts place also. Here is a discount code for 10% off. I use them a lot and have had great luck. Not everything is always cheaper though... use this in the where did you hear about us part at checkout
75183356169316

[Project77]

i cant seem to find any lower control arms on oriellys website

[jasonroman]

Originally Posted by pwtr02ss

check rockauot.com prices against your local parts place also. Here is a discount code for 10% off. I use them a lot and have had great luck. Not everything is always cheaper though... use this in the where did you hear about us part at checkout
75183356169316

i knew i shoulda come on here first....just got home and placed an order with rock auto.
pitman, idler, tie rods, ball joints, and control arm bushings..think 8 in total.

didnt knwo there was more stuff i should have gotten.....
didnt know a code for discount.....

391 shipped in a couple days.

dont have the know how to do swap, so ill be paying someone to do it. but thats what i paid for the parts coming.

good luck

[lilpoindexter]

My local autozone shows the dorman complete upper arms here
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par.../N-imvp5Z8oz71

I spent big bucks and only used USA made MOOG stuff, except for the pitman arm, which was the expensive "good" line at NAPA. I agree that you don't want to use crap autozone parts in the front.

[Project77]

what about the lower control arms can i get those or not?

[Low84]

Originally Posted by lilpoindexter

My local autozone shows the dorman complete upper arms here
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par.../N-imvp5Z8oz71

I spent big bucks and only used USA made MOOG stuff, except for the pitman arm, which was the expensive "good" line at NAPA. I agree that you don't want to use crap autozone parts in the front.

Lowriders/hoppers use MOOG balljoints and they take a beating. They're not indestructible but definitely the strongest I've come across.

[Scottsdale Doc]

I'm researching the same parts, and found Classic Parts of America had good prices (compared to LMC), and I've been happy with their quality on previous purchases. They also have a 10% discount for November Code "thanks11".
Summit Racing have a sale on Moog Coil Springs at present, Jegs also has good price on them.
I'll now compare Rock Auto before deciding to purchase.

[jasonroman]

tie rod sleeves

should i order these parts as well???

[old Rusty C10]

the sleeves can be used over they just accept the threaded in inner and outer tie rod ends, but i tend to change them out. It makes it easier cause you usually have to clean them up and i dont have a good parts cleaner and this way the nuts and bolts on the clamps are new but most of the time the old ones are salvagable

[jasonroman]

Originally Posted by old Rusty C10

the sleeves can be used over they just accept the threaded in inner and outer tie rod ends, but i tend to change them out. It makes it easier cause you usually have to clean them up and i dont have a good parts cleaner and this way the nuts and bolts on the clamps are new but most of the time the old ones are salvagable

thanks for repy. checked rock auto and they only show one for front.
should i just get 4? that way all those parts will be new and less to worry about and maybe eiser for shop to align?

[old Rusty C10]

Originally Posted by jasonroman

thanks for repy. checked rock auto and they only show one for front.
should i just get 4? that way all those parts will be new and less to worry about and maybe eiser for shop to align?

it should be one sleevel per side betwen the inner and outer tie rod end per side so a otal of two they are the same part number

[Moostifer]

fwiw... Summit now sells Moog

[InLimbo]

Looking on Rockauto at Moog parts a Mevotech part came up with each Moog part # - i.e. ES409LT for Moog and MES409LT for Mevotech. Is Mevotech a lower priced line of Moog? Part #s are the same just warranty is different - lifetime for Moog and 5yr/100,000 for Mevotech. Plus, Mevotech parts are less than half price.

[Project77]

how much do yall think it would be if i took it to the dealership and had them replace everything on the front end(tie rods, pitman arm, idler arms, shocks, control arms, ball joints, wheel bearings, and align the front end? can yall give me a range and would it be over $600?

[Project77]

an alignment would only cost a little under $100 dollars at the dealership i want to go to

[tucsonjwt]

Be careful on the lower control arm assembly. I got a left lower control arm assembly by Raybestos from Rock Auto (I think) because it was the cheapest. It did not have the proper hole to accommodate the clip for the brake line so the installer had to hog one out. I guess it was a "universal" GM type lower control arm assembly. I would take some time first to comparison shop these parts. Genuine GM is the ultimate way to go, so check the GM OEM sellers for comparison prices at least. I check:
www.autopartstomorrow.com
www.oehq.com
www.oewarehouse.com
www.rockauto.com
www.gmpartsdirect.com
Once you have the correct GM part numbers for your truck (Rock Auto is a good place to get them), then check google, ebay, Amazon - you can find some good prices there sometimes.

[old Rusty C10]

the dealership would prolly be $600 for the weheel allignment alone.. Any shop will charge over $600 for this work

[gofastbobby]

FWIW, If you look up the price of the parts you want replaced. double that number. then double it again. that will probably be close to what the dealership will charge you.

[Pro Performance]

Classic Parts is where I just got a my stuff. Good price and looks like decent stuff. Don't remember the brand, but when I get home, I can check.

I got tie rids, pitman arm, and idler arm from them
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[motornut]

consider replacing the steering coupling assembly too
it sure helped mine tighten up...doorman
not sure yet which to recomend...

i used a 31011 but it put the wheel 180 out
supposed to be manual and power 69-86
after calling now they say 31015-
73-90 power only
but it looks too small an opening
had to email them pics,waiting to hear back
said they never heard of this prob?doubt i'm the first lol