North American Turbocoupe Organization



Rear end suspension rebuild
RC Martin Offline
Posting Freak
#1
Can anyone who has done this before chime in. I just got parts for redoing the suspension in the rear of my 84TC. I have so far:
-gas KYB shocks
-rubber RUCA to axle bushings, plus install tool
-poly RLCA to frame bushings, Maximum Motorsports
-poly spring isolators, Maximum Motorsports
-keeping stock springs since ride height seems okay

Is there anything I'm forgetting? I don't have bushings for the RLCA to axle, or for the RUCA to frame. Do I need them and is it even possible to replace the originals? Any tips for bushing removal/installation, what order should I do everything in?

I elected not to replace the control arms with aftermarket since I don't think the cost is worth it for my mellow driving.
Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, Bright Canyon Red TuTone, Desert Tan Interior; 1 of 7 in this combo in 1984 according to Marti.  1 of 13,361 TCs in 84.
   Rebuilt, 3-Angle Valve Job, SYB37 "OE/Small" Slider Cam
   Full 3" Stinger Exhaust to Flowmaster 40, Gnari FMIC/Recirc/BPV, MBC @ 18psi, RF-E6 Manifold, Remote-Mount TFI, PC1 and Flowed 35# Injectors, Inline Walboro 255HP, Kirban AFPR
   Rebuilt Suspension -- KYB & Energy Suspension
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RC Martin Offline
Posting Freak
#2
Not finding much info on the rear suspension. Found these helpful threads, but they are all for the front suspension (thanks B):

http://natomessageboard.com/ubbthreads.p...377&page=1
http://natomessageboard.com/ubbthreads.p...Post239322
http://natomessageboard.com/ubbthreads.p...Post239093
http://natomessageboard.com/ubbthreads.p...Post235646
Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, Bright Canyon Red TuTone, Desert Tan Interior; 1 of 7 in this combo in 1984 according to Marti.  1 of 13,361 TCs in 84.
   Rebuilt, 3-Angle Valve Job, SYB37 "OE/Small" Slider Cam
   Full 3" Stinger Exhaust to Flowmaster 40, Gnari FMIC/Recirc/BPV, MBC @ 18psi, RF-E6 Manifold, Remote-Mount TFI, PC1 and Flowed 35# Injectors, Inline Walboro 255HP, Kirban AFPR
   Rebuilt Suspension -- KYB & Energy Suspension
Reply

RC Martin Offline
Posting Freak
#3
Getting started. No doubt these 30 year old shocks have about given up the ghost. That's the damper seeping fluid haha

[img:center]http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/703/k0le.jpg[/img]

I had some trouble getting the top nuts off of the shocks but letting liquid wrench soak in for a while did the trick. Used vice grips on the tip of the shaft.

The Haynes manual wasn't clear on torque specs, it said 70ftlb for the dampers so I did that plus a little for the dampers and lower shock bolt. Adding the spacers for the KYB dampers was easy enough.

[img:center]http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/89/mc7n.jpg[/img]

I have looked up a lot of Youtube videos of replacing bushing on FOX suspensions. I haven't decided what to do yet about the big oval bushings on the RLCA and the frame bushings on uppers... No idea how I would press them out and back in. Any ideas?
Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, Bright Canyon Red TuTone, Desert Tan Interior; 1 of 7 in this combo in 1984 according to Marti.  1 of 13,361 TCs in 84.
   Rebuilt, 3-Angle Valve Job, SYB37 "OE/Small" Slider Cam
   Full 3" Stinger Exhaust to Flowmaster 40, Gnari FMIC/Recirc/BPV, MBC @ 18psi, RF-E6 Manifold, Remote-Mount TFI, PC1 and Flowed 35# Injectors, Inline Walboro 255HP, Kirban AFPR
   Rebuilt Suspension -- KYB & Energy Suspension
Reply

Not B Anymore Offline
Administrator
#4
Blowtorch and a hammer will get them out. Just heat up the metal till the bushings start fizzing and popping from both ends and give 'em a whack. Depending on how much you actually heat them, they could possible launch themselves when you hit them so be prepared for the possibility.

Installing the new ones is easy of you have a ball joint press, large c-clamp or a larger vice may work. You may be able to tap them in... I don't know - I used my ball joint tool.
Brian Leavitt
'86 TC 5-Speed -- MS2x w/COP | 83 lb. injectors | T3/T4 50 Trim Stage 3 .63AR | Full 3" Exhaust - No Cat | Motorsport FMIC | Ranger Roller | Ported E6 | Walbro 255HP | Kirban | 20psi | 120-amp 3G | 8.8" 3.55 rear | '03 Cobra Wheels
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5.0TurboCoupe1988 Offline
Posting Freak
#5
i burn them out in a fire pit. after a few minutes they eject themselves. sand the residue out of the shell, lube the urethane bushings with the supplied grease and press them in with a vice. leave the tube out of the center and you can press them in most of the way with your hand. use the vice to finish it and then lube the tube and drive it with a mallet.

there's no reason to use factory style rubber bushings. urethane is way better....just don't overtighten them. the bolt fits snug inside the bushing tube. lube the sides of the bushings and tighten the bolts just to snug. it will not come loose if the pinch nuts are still intact. if not, replace them.
1988 TC 2.3/5-Speed, 148K
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#6
Maximum motor sports makes a removal and install tool for the upper control arm bushings for around $30.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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RC Martin Offline
Posting Freak
#7
Thanks for the tips. Heat and pressure sounds like the easy way to go for removing the rubber core of the bushing. The problem is that it leaves the shell behind, making the polyurethane the only replacement option.

I already have the Maximum Motorsports solutions. This includes the install tool for rubber in to the upper to axle (rubber is mandatory for upper to axle), 1 set in poly for the rear lower, and poly spring isolators. What I have left is the upper to frame and the lower to frame.

I would honestly use rubber for both sets I still need. since I don't drive in rain or snow, I think that even rubber would last a long time. The other issue is I can't find individual sets for the remaining ones I need in poly, only the complete poly set from Energy Suspension... does anyone know where they can be found individually?

Here's the big lower one in rubber. It's so big I don't know HOW you would press the shell out of the arm. I also don't see these included as part of the polyurethane kits.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C9O...PDKIKX0DER
Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, Bright Canyon Red TuTone, Desert Tan Interior; 1 of 7 in this combo in 1984 according to Marti.  1 of 13,361 TCs in 84.
   Rebuilt, 3-Angle Valve Job, SYB37 "OE/Small" Slider Cam
   Full 3" Stinger Exhaust to Flowmaster 40, Gnari FMIC/Recirc/BPV, MBC @ 18psi, RF-E6 Manifold, Remote-Mount TFI, PC1 and Flowed 35# Injectors, Inline Walboro 255HP, Kirban AFPR
   Rebuilt Suspension -- KYB & Energy Suspension
Reply

RC Martin Offline
Posting Freak
#8
Never mind, found it. It's the Energy suspension 3115 kit that has the oval bushing.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ens-4-...hunderbird

I guess my only option is to buy the whole kit and not use all of it Undecided
Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, Bright Canyon Red TuTone, Desert Tan Interior; 1 of 7 in this combo in 1984 according to Marti.  1 of 13,361 TCs in 84.
   Rebuilt, 3-Angle Valve Job, SYB37 "OE/Small" Slider Cam
   Full 3" Stinger Exhaust to Flowmaster 40, Gnari FMIC/Recirc/BPV, MBC @ 18psi, RF-E6 Manifold, Remote-Mount TFI, PC1 and Flowed 35# Injectors, Inline Walboro 255HP, Kirban AFPR
   Rebuilt Suspension -- KYB & Energy Suspension
Reply

5.0TurboCoupe1988 Offline
Posting Freak
#9
you'll be a lot happier with urethane. the shell is easily removed after you get the rubber out of the way if you still want to use a rubber bushing.
1988 TC 2.3/5-Speed, 148K
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RC Martin Offline
Posting Freak
#10
Well I suppose I'm going to go urethane. I'll just buy the complete rear kit from Energy Suspension and not use the upper to axle since I already have the proper rubber ones for there.
Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, Bright Canyon Red TuTone, Desert Tan Interior; 1 of 7 in this combo in 1984 according to Marti.  1 of 13,361 TCs in 84.
   Rebuilt, 3-Angle Valve Job, SYB37 "OE/Small" Slider Cam
   Full 3" Stinger Exhaust to Flowmaster 40, Gnari FMIC/Recirc/BPV, MBC @ 18psi, RF-E6 Manifold, Remote-Mount TFI, PC1 and Flowed 35# Injectors, Inline Walboro 255HP, Kirban AFPR
   Rebuilt Suspension -- KYB & Energy Suspension
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