Re: [FWDLK] Front end rebuild for a '59

[Curtis French <cmf392@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I can give you some Moog part numbers, as I went through this a while back
for my 59.  The info is from notes I made at the time.

Upper ball joint - K772 (std) or K7262 (HD)
Lower ball joint - K719
Upper control arm bushing kit (1 per car) K325
Upper control arm shaft kit (2 per car) K8243A
Strut Rod bushings (new improved type) K7039

Moog didn't have a listing for the lower control arm bushings, but I got a
pair from Bernbaum for $15.

I got both complete tie rod assemblies (with inner and outer ends) for $20
per side off eBay a couple of years ago.

According to my notes, most of these numbers, except for the upper control
arm bushings, are the same for 57-61 Dodge, 62-64 Dodge 880, 61-64 Chrysler
Newport and 63-64 New Yorker.  60-62 New Yorker is all different.

You can remove the ball joints from the control arms yourself with the
correct ball joint socket, a breaker bar and a pipe to put on the end of the
breaker bar.  Unscrew them while the control arms are still on the car.  Get
6-7 feet of leverage and they come off relatively easily.  Getting to this
point assumes you have successfully taken the tension off the torsion bars,
removed the brakes, and got the ball joints out of the spindle (a tie rod
separator and a big hammer works here).  Two other potentially difficult
steps are getting the torsion bars to slide back out of the way (the correct
clamping tool helps), and then getting the upper control arm shafts out.
They are supposed to slide out, but if they are just a little bit rusted to
the bushing shell, no amount of hammering will get them out and they will
probably have to be cut out.  Getting the bushings out of the lower control
arm will require a shop press.  The uppers can be removed without a press,
but it ain't easy.  There is a tool for this job that makes it a lot easier.

Hope this helps a bit.

Curtis
59 Coronet 2 dr. hardtop
56 Belvedere Club Sedan
56 Studebaker Golden Hawk
49 Wayfarer sedan
plus 60s stuff



----- Original Message -----
From: "James" <sartana@xxxxxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2003 3:16 PM
Subject: [FWDLK] Front end rebuild for a '59


> I am going to rebuild the front end of my '59 Dodge. I know this has been
> discussed before and I try to save al the emails that I think I will need
> but....
>
> Does anyone have any links or book references on the basic process? For
> instance, does on replace the Tie Rod ends as a matter of course or is
there
> some way to tell if what you have are fine? Here is an old post from 2001.
> Is this correct?
>
> >Its not the rod that goes bad, it is the ball and socket ends go bad.
> One replaces these sockets or "tie rod ends".  They are going bad when if
> you twist the rod by hand and there is not hardly any resistance at all,
> they are worn.  When you twist and can rock the ball in the socket because
> there is free play of the spring loaded mounting surface inside, then they
> are more than worn, they are worn out.
>
> >On some "rods" like the steering center link of most of our cars, the
ends
> are not replaceable but are an integral part with the shaft.  When these
are
> worn and worn out, the entire unit must be replaced or rebuilt by a source
> like Rare Parts.
>
> I also have old posts stating that to remove the best way to remove a ball
> joint is to have a machine shop do it.
>
> Also, do you recommend getting some sort of complete front end kit from
> Bernbaum or piecing it out with some from Napa, some from Bernbaum and
some
> from whoever? I want to get good parts at the best price, but unless I
have
> something resembling a "shopping list", I have no way to piece it out and
in
> essence, create a complete kit for the best price. Also, I know there are
> NOS parts here and there, is that a good way to go?
>
> Finally, what if anything do I need to do in relation to the Torsion
Bars??
>
> This is the first time I am going to do this so any tips you may have will
> be most appreciated.
>
> Thanks again to all for their help.
>
> James
> 1959 Dodge
>
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