Best front end rebuild parts on a budget

[cfan10]

Looking to gain experience, so I want to try my hand at replacing bushings/ball joints/tie rods/shocks/struts. What special tools do I need to do this, also what is the best place quality/price wise to get these parts online or store.
Is it possible to put air shocks for extra lift? Or would a small body lift do a better?
Thanks for the advice.
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[HTX86chevy]

I am also planning on doing this pretty soon. I got all my bushings and ball joints from jegs pretty cheap, but don't really know if they are the best option... who knows lol. not even sure what else I need.
what part of TX you from Cfan10?

[cfan10]

Originally Posted by HTX86chevy

I am also planning on doing this pretty soon. I got all my bushings and ball joints from jegs pretty cheap, but don't really know if they are the best option... who knows lol. not even sure what else I need.
what part of TX you from Cfan10?

In houston for now.
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[86 K-10]

it's a pretty easy job...just rent a ball joint press from a parts store. if you're going to replace the idler arm and tie rod ends, just use a tie rod fork to knock the ends off. plan to spend most of a day doing it if youve never done it before.

the house brand suspension parts at the parts stores are probably all about the same. im running ball joints from advance and am pleased so far... considering the Moog stuff cost about 3x as much.

[86 K-10]

if you want a small lift for cheap, you could run add-a-leafs front and rear. just dont run blocks up front and body lifts look stupid IMO.

by the time you buy/install some add-a-leafs, blocks, or shackles you could have got a rough country kit for just a little more $

[tucsonjwt]

I would price OEM GM or AC Delco parts before you begin. I had a bad experience with a "one size fits all" lower control arm by Raybestos. If you like I can post all of the online OEM suppliers I have used - all worked out well for me and some have free shipping over a small dollar amount (like $25, $ 50, etc.) and no sales tax. I always search Amazon and Ebay just in case OEM deals pop up there.
MOOG I think is still a good aftermarket brand, but shop around.
I find you can get OEM parts online for about the same as aftermarket parts and sometimes cheaper. OEM parts are not perfect, but for the same or nearly same price I will go with OEM parts.

[cfan10]

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

I would price OEM GM or AC Delco parts before you begin. I had a bad experience with a "one size fits all" lower control arm by Raybestos. If you like I can post all of the online OEM suppliers I have used - all worked out well for me and some have free shipping over a small dollar amount (like $25, $ 50, etc.) and no sales tax. I always search Amazon and Ebay just in case OEM deals pop up there.
MOOG I think is still a good aftermarket brand, but shop around.
I find you can get OEM parts online for about the same as aftermarket parts and sometimes cheaper. OEM parts are not perfect, but for the same or nearly same price I will go with OEM parts.

Yeah, if you could pass that info, it'd be great. Thanks.
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[ctandc]

www.rockauto.com

go to town.

Cheapest you'll find period. Plus they run warehouse closeouts and you can score deals, I scored brake pads for my Dakota for like $15 shipped and they were $70 pads.

Click and order all you'd need and not run back and forth, worrying about special orders etc etc.

They are cheap on shipping too.

[TheWhiteElephant]

Originally Posted by ctandc

www.rockauto.com

go to town.

Cheapest you'll find period. Plus they run warehouse closeouts and you can score deals, I scored brake pads for my Dakota for like $15 shipped and they were $70 pads.

Click and order all you'd need and not run back and forth, worrying about special orders etc etc.

They are cheap on shipping too.

Yup, Rockauto is awesome. Saved me hundreds. Here's what I did--I went on all the auto parts websites, ran an estimate of what I needed, got parts numbers, etc. Then I did the same on Rockauto. I literally saved hundreds of dollars doing this. I got all the good parts (Moog), and was only disappointed I did not discover Rockauto sooner. I also scored big on the closeouts.

[misternash2]

i'd have to say moog. i bought mevotech for my shortwide, but i wish i'd just put moog on. i've never heard anyone say anything bad about moog.

[ctandc]

Originally Posted by misternash2

i'd have to say moog. i bought mevotech for my shortwide, but i wish i'd just put moog on. i've never heard anyone say anything bad about moog.

You had any trouble out of the Mevotech?

[tucsonjwt]

For OEM GM or AC Delco try:
www.oewarehouse.com
www.oehq.com
www.autopartstomorrow.com
www.rockauto.com
www.gmpartsdirect.com
The first 3 listings have free shipping over a certain amount ($25, $50, $100.)
Once you have GM part number, you can search Amazon and Ebay for deals.