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Post Info TOPIC: Suspension/underbody cleanup project


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Date: Oct 18, 2012
Suspension/underbody cleanup project
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I guess I'll use this new thread to document my re-newing of the suspention system.

Unfortunatly my 04 monte is covered in rot thanks to it being upstate.

I will be posting pics of each install, before & after. 

 

Control arms/tie rod ends/sway bar links

Painting process: 

sanded down, primed 3 times rustoleum white sandable primer, 3 coats rustoleum acrylic laquer red

old vs new

Full view of new control arms: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/sukihana04/IMG_8652_zps0720df82.jpg

 

Current Items: Mevotec control arms & tie rod ends, Duralast HD sway bar links.



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Next week I'm stuck changing a hub....I've had that nasty hum all week, I just hope it does not fall apart ): Also for good news I just got in my new hazard switch. Once my new steering wheel buttons come in the plastic dashboard cover will be painted the same Victory red as the body :)

Thinking of a custom pinstriping to match the racing stripes.



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That looks really good. I like the red underneith. I did the same to some of the support bars on my 86 SS and plan on doing it to a few pieces on the 01 SS in the Spring.

But My question is, and in no disrespect, why paint the interior pieces red? The car being a limited edition and that you have the documentation, why change it from the originality of ther car? I know the suspension parts can be repainted black again, but once the dash pieces are painted, there really isn't any turning back. OR do you have a different interior pieces to change it back?

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twomanymontes wrote:

That looks really good. I like the red underneith. I did the same to some of the support bars on my 86 SS and plan on doing it to a few pieces on the 01 SS in the Spring.

But My question is, and in no disrespect, why paint the interior pieces red? The car being a limited edition and that you have the documentation, why change it from the originality of ther car? I know the suspension parts can be repainted black again, but once the dash pieces are painted, there really isn't any turning back. OR do you have a different interior pieces to change it back?


 I plan on getting a junkyard dash cover for the job, keeping the original just in case.

Anything factory is not being painted, the covers on the new steering wheel buttons will be painted instead of originals first to see if I like the change. I've seen some awesome interiors with the plastic trim painted. 



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I kind of want to do the dash like this one....
obviously in red though. Its something for me to do, I get bored easily :P

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Ok, That's cool. I like the idea, but hard to do to an original limited edition car. Good luck on the progress.

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Finally uploaded pics of the passanger hub assembly job. 

The rear seal of the hub broke, causing water to leak in.

 

Probably covered in rust on the inside...the grease was a pinkish red color ):

 

Took a total of 4 painful hours with a hammer that had a broken handle doh

Got the steering wheel covers& buttons today! they look so nice :)



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Yeap, thats the way I see them all the time! LOL!

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looking good.. good luck with her

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Started undercoating the rear bumper. Came out OK for now, need to re-do the paint. Ran out of undercoating.







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Started undercoating the rear bumper. Came out OK for now, need to re-do the paint. Ran out of undercoating.

Also need a new fastener! :P

 

 



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i loved my 04 cavalier ls i had it was yellow and underbody was yellow as well and i would wash her every day if i drove her in the winter( as a pizza delivery guy for like half year yuk mileage ) and right by my job i had a car wash so i would every night on way home use my change from work and spray her every night.. i had a co-worker/friend that would brag to other people about my under carriage and how he could eat off of it..
i would love to own a car wash where u can pull ur car in and either raise car up with some version of the lifts or have the floor of the wash bay slide open and u are under it and u can spray and hand wash ur undercarriage (kinda like thinkning like at the quickie oil change places where they have that sub floor under ur car.. i would have to ponder which way would work best and safest for a customer...
i already drool over idea of haveing my own car lift when i have a house and have a 2 story garage where i can install a lift ..

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and noone better take my idea either lol

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I wish I had a lift!!!!! It would make it so much easier!

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lol i would never leave from under it i would use a toothbrush..

hey did u know the toothbrush was invented in Fulton new tork




anywhere else it woulda been called a teethbrush

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Jenn, looks good. I did the same thing last year to my 01 SS. I used about 5 cans of undercoating to do the entire car. Power washing didn't seem to affect it. I will have to do it again next year just to maintain the blacked out look.

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thanks, I have not looked underneath since I did the job..still need some time to get back underneath and start re-spraying. I'm just glad I don't have to worry about it getting any worse back there!

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Been trying to pinpoint the creaking/crunching sound from the suspension & its just got me so aggravated.. 2 mechanics so far can't figure it out. Yesterday I had everything looked over. & everything is tight and secure. Rack is good, bushings are good, majority of everything is new. I just don't get it!!!

So far I've changed:

control arms (mevotec) with new bushings & ball joints.

outer tie rod ends (mevotec)

inner tie rod ends (acdelco)

upper shock mounts + bearings (KYB)

Thought the sound was my CAI, wrapped the hole for the pipe with leftover thermotec heat wrap. It moves smoothly now. I've looked at the left motor mount and its not leaking/cracked or anything.

All I have left to fix/change are the shocks and sway bar+ bushings. People have said to check the intermediate shaft for the steering, but I don't feel the symptoms. Its more in the suspension than steering. When the car is parked you can push down on the front end all you want and can't duplicate the sound. When I had the shock out for the mounts its not blown/leaking and the shaft is clean, no sign of corrosion.

Yea the exterior has alot of rust, but as you see the 'bad side' shock looks good. I'd imagine if it really was bad on the inside you would notice a ring, or scratches towards the bottom of the shaft, but there is nothing..... Doesn't mean i'm not gonna change these any time soon..



-- Edited by RedNightmare on Saturday 25th of May 2013 12:12:37 PM

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check the cradle bolts, they are known to loosen over time

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where are they located?

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under the car, engine sits in an aluminum cradle that is bolted to the body.

picture of motor in cradle....



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k, going to have to check them out when I get a jack.

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cradle bolts are tight. Bushings do look a tad bit dry though. Not enough to cause a noise though.

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Time to update! Currently lounging away in the garage with my standup A/C, waiting for paint to dry. Got my new Sway bars, ordered from ZZPerformance. Front Progress sway bar(solid upgrade from stock& gmperformance parts) rear GMPP(gm performance parts) rear sway bar upgrade, new front and rear sway bar bushings. Also ordered pre-painted rear tubular trailing arms, lighter and stronger than the stock stamped arms(comes with poly bushings)

Just waiting for the first coat of red paint to dry!



Rear, primed and first coat of red.

front primed and first coat of red.



-- Edited by RedNightmare on Tuesday 9th of July 2013 03:31:11 PM



-- Edited by RedNightmare on Tuesday 9th of July 2013 03:32:40 PM

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looking good Jenn!!!

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thanks :)
painting is coming out well! Waiting for the second coat to dry so I can flip them around and finish up.

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Looking good!!! I need to pick up a set of trailing arms for my 01.

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the ones I got are $120 for the pair...including the extra paint. The welds on it is really good too, nothing poopty like those garbage Dorman arms.

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RedNightmare wrote:

the ones I got are $120 for the pair...including the extra paint. The welds on it is really good too, nothing poopty like those garbage Dorman arms.


 don't be bashing Dorman's arms. there is nothing wrong with them. they're stock replacements and not show car parts. splatter from welding is on all sorts of parts.



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oh i forgot nice work on the paint. it's hard not to get runs on items like those.

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intimadatorsquizz wrote:
RedNightmare wrote:

the ones I got are $120 for the pair...including the extra paint. The welds on it is really good too, nothing poopty like those garbage Dorman arms.


 don't be bashing Dorman's arms. there is nothing wrong with them. they're stock replacements and not show car parts. splatter from welding is on all sorts of parts.


 some of the stuff I've seen are so cheaply made....i would never even trust them as a replacement on a DD. 

I've grown to find out I'm pretty damn good with a rattle can..



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looking all real good

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rear sway bar has been installed! I've already noticed the difference. 

Both old and new are the same diameter, but I tested them out outside the vehicle to see any difference in flexibility and the old one was definitely worn out.



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So, rear trailing arms are in along with the sway bar..Starting to look good under there....

It looks like the previous components have been switched at a earlier time. Already had tubular trailing arms, GMPP rear sway bar and adjustable track bar/lateral arms. Bushings are shot and everything is rotting away...

a little peek through....*giggle!*

 

Just found my next purchase! :D

BMR Adjustable rear lateral arms/track bars

 

I may start looking up the rear brake components and do a overhaul on that. That whole area is rusting through...When I get the shocks in I plan on sanding down the knuckles and give them a good coat of epoxy.



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sweeeet.

 

I do remember when I changed the mounts the coil springs had a FE4 tag too.



-- Edited by RedNightmare on Monday 29th of July 2013 01:25:09 PM

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Some cars had the GMPP stuff from the factory, my 04 Impala SS did. The SC cars had different suspension packages available. FE4 is the one with the GMPP stuff I believe. Plus, I also think after a certain year, all W-Body got the tubular rear arms, but could have been model specific.

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makes sense, none of this stuff looks like its ever been changed. I remember the original sway bar did have a tag on it saying FE4.

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yeah, FE4 was the police stuff (same as GMPP). Most cars had FE3, but a few FE4 SCSS's made it out. You should have FE4 on your RPO tag as well

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Jenn, That's really looking good. I really need to get some work done to mine.....

 
 
PitchBlackSS wrote:

Some cars had the GMPP stuff from the factory, my 04 Impala SS did. The SC cars had different suspension packages available. FE4 is the one with the GMPP stuff I believe. Plus, I also think after a certain year, all W-Body got the tubular rear arms, but could have been model specific.


 Looks like something else we need to start checking the junkyards for



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Figured I'd let you know, some items are not so great, but I'll be keeping the major components, such as the coils, struts, sway bars. If you want anything just shoot a offer to get the stuff out of my garage ;)

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Nice job.

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