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| racedirector |
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Age: 63 Posts: 1584 Joined: 20th Mar 2005 Ride: EDL Fairmont Wagon/AU XR8 Ghia Location: Riverstone |
Thank you fiendie me ole mate, I'll use the 8mm rod idea of I need to.
As for the rest, well normal springs are fine for me - I don't want too harsh a ride with ute springs. With heavy duty shocks back there along with the spring changeover it should be fine. And yup, I am aware of the diff stuff when doing springs, have done far too many of them so far  Cheers RD
_________________ =1994 ED Wagon GLi body/EL Fairmont spec with *ALL* EL running gear.= |
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| racedirector |
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Age: 63 Posts: 1584 Joined: 20th Mar 2005 Ride: EDL Fairmont Wagon/AU XR8 Ghia Location: Riverstone |
Well, the front end is disassembled with only the rack to come out. Bought all my stuff today so it is all on. Will be borrowing Rachs car tomorrow to get the balljoints done and get any supplies I need.
I had to do the job today as the suspension place I get the balljoints done at don't do them on Saturdays, so tomorrow is it if I want to keep to my Monday back on the road timetable. I am well on track to get everything I planned done so that has to be a good thing. It actually looks like the radius rod bushes have been done at some stage as the standard rubber ones are no longer there. The wheel bearings look to have been done not long ago as well as they are in perfect nick - the had some lovely blue grease in them and not the normal goop that you usually find. Anyway, off to shower now, high heat today plus rain while I was doing it makes for some messy stuff Cheers RD
_________________ =1994 ED Wagon GLi body/EL Fairmont spec with *ALL* EL running gear.= |
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| Matt_jew |
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{USERNAME} wrote: {USERNAME} wrote: Sounds the goods RD. I will be having an ABS system available soon....................  You would, your as bad as me with bits lying around Not quite ready to buy ABS systems, have just managed to convince Rach I need all of the above bits. Just out of interest, the ABS wouldn't be EL would it?Nah its actually EF mate. Didint know there was a difference between EF and EL on the ABS.
_________________ {USERNAME} wrote: More people paid for a ride in a VT commodore then an AU Falcon so the VT is superior.
Based on that fact my Mum is the best around! |
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| racedirector |
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Age: 63 Posts: 1584 Joined: 20th Mar 2005 Ride: EDL Fairmont Wagon/AU XR8 Ghia Location: Riverstone |
{USERNAME} wrote: {USERNAME} wrote: {USERNAME} wrote: Sounds the goods RD. I will be having an ABS system available soon.................... You would, your as bad as me with bits lying around Not quite ready to buy ABS systems, have just managed to convince Rach I need all of the above bits. Just out of interest, the ABS wouldn't be EL would it?Nah its actually EF mate. Didint know there was a difference between EF and EL on the ABS. I dunno if there is a difference either, I am just a pedantic bugger and want to keep everything EL
_________________ =1994 ED Wagon GLi body/EL Fairmont spec with *ALL* EL running gear.= |
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| Matt_jew |
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I believe the word is ANAL buddy.......
_________________ {USERNAME} wrote: More people paid for a ride in a VT commodore then an AU Falcon so the VT is superior.
Based on that fact my Mum is the best around! |
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| racedirector |
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Age: 63 Posts: 1584 Joined: 20th Mar 2005 Ride: EDL Fairmont Wagon/AU XR8 Ghia Location: Riverstone |
{USERNAME} wrote: I believe the word is ANAL buddy....... Hehehehehehe, thats me matey 
_________________ =1994 ED Wagon GLi body/EL Fairmont spec with *ALL* EL running gear.= |
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| snap0964 |
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{USERNAME} wrote: {USERNAME} wrote: Didint know there was a difference between EF and EL on the ABS. I dunno if there is a difference either, I am just a pedantic bugger and want to keep everything EL {USERNAME} wrote: Anyone know the size of the bolt holding the rear leaf springs together? I might grab a couple to have a spares when I do the business...... An HT bolt, nut and washer around the same size as the spring holes will do - the actual items are hard to find, and are expensive for what they are. The originals will most likely be badly corroded.I'll take your spare leafs for $$$ Bruce . . .
_________________ 96 XH Longreach 'S': LPG, Alarm, 3.23:1 LSD, Cruise, Trip Comp, ABS, Power Windows, Mid Series Dome Lt, Climate Ctrl |
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| racedirector |
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Age: 63 Posts: 1584 Joined: 20th Mar 2005 Ride: EDL Fairmont Wagon/AU XR8 Ghia Location: Riverstone |
{USERNAME} wrote: {USERNAME} wrote: Anyone know the size of the bolt holding the rear leaf springs together? I might grab a couple to have a spares when I do the business...... An HT bolt, nut and washer around the same size as the spring holes will do - the actual items are hard to find, and are expensive for what they are. The originals will most likely be badly corroded.I'll take your spare leafs for $$$ Bruce . . . Thanks matey, just need to locate an HT bolt, used to run titanium ones in our race cars but haven't got any of those left I don't actually have any spare springs, the last set went with my wreck. All the experimenting will be done on my "live" set
_________________ =1994 ED Wagon GLi body/EL Fairmont spec with *ALL* EL running gear.= |
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| racedirector |
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Age: 63 Posts: 1584 Joined: 20th Mar 2005 Ride: EDL Fairmont Wagon/AU XR8 Ghia Location: Riverstone |
Ok, the SS steering rack is in and one side of the front end is back in. Got a great deal on my balljoint job 'cause it was Friday, had to do with beer o'clock
Question: the SS steering racks have a different arrangement when it comes to hoses (or so it seems), the holes seem to be arranged differently. I have connected the pressure line from the pump to the "upper" hole and the return line to the "lower" hole - looking down from the bonnet direction - am I correct? This is the only way I could get the hoses to actually screw in....
_________________ =1994 ED Wagon GLi body/EL Fairmont spec with *ALL* EL running gear.= |
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| racedirector |
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Age: 63 Posts: 1584 Joined: 20th Mar 2005 Ride: EDL Fairmont Wagon/AU XR8 Ghia Location: Riverstone |
Happy to report the front end is now done. Chris (a_total_tool) called over to double check my steering hose config and we managed to get the rack bled fine. I did actually get it right when I put it together.
Have been for a quick drive with the new suspension bits and the SS rack and.... wow! The rack certainly makes a difference!!! The suspension feels nice and tight too. All that has to be done is to get a wheel alignment and some new tyres and everything will be set. I am just about to start on the back, including the spring reset so I'll report back later... Cheers RD
_________________ =1994 ED Wagon GLi body/EL Fairmont spec with *ALL* EL running gear.= |
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| BenJ |
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Excellent work RD.
Looking forward to news re the back end. Cheers BenJ
_________________ {DESCRIPTION} - Current Ride |
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| racedirector |
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Age: 63 Posts: 1584 Joined: 20th Mar 2005 Ride: EDL Fairmont Wagon/AU XR8 Ghia Location: Riverstone |
Ok, I have one side out and the springs separated. The bolt holding them altogether actually came out without too much hassle. One end seems to be round (should it have been) so I locked that in the vice and slowly undid the other end with some assistance from CRC 556 . I now have the small leaf off and turned over but my clamps aren't big enough so I am off to Bunnies to grab a couple that are. If all goes well with this side I will take action shots of the other side as I do it. Interesting times ahead
_________________ =1994 ED Wagon GLi body/EL Fairmont spec with *ALL* EL running gear.= |
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| racedirector |
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Age: 63 Posts: 1584 Joined: 20th Mar 2005 Ride: EDL Fairmont Wagon/AU XR8 Ghia Location: Riverstone |
Well, the first spring is done and, in my opinion, was a PITA. Still, it's done now and back on the car. I have an issue I need to sort out with the diff not quite locating on the hat but I was dying to see what it looked like.
To my amazement, it actually works! As far as I can tell it is lower on the adjusted spring side than the side with the lowering block in it. I tried to take some pics with Rach's phone but they came out crap. I need new batteries for our daughters camera so will snap some in the morning and then will document the process with the other spring, that's if I don't decide to do it tonight Just a quick rundown..... - Remove spring from car. - Undo the centering bolt. - Take the small leaf off the bottom, flip over and put on the top. - Apply two 6" G-clamps and slowly clamp the spring down, alternating between the two clamps. ** NOTE: MAKE SURE THE HOLES LINE UP IN ALL LEAVES. Got caught by this one and had to start again. - When you get close and a bolt will go through all leaves, use the bolt to finish off the compression. - Close the clamps up hard on the spring and remove the temporary bolt, replace with the final HT bolt (mine was original) - Refit to the car You will need either the original centre bolt or one that protrudes from both ends. These protrusions are used to locate the hat and lower plate on the spring, which in turn locates the diff. I promise pics when I can, we just seem to be short of damn batteries at the moment.... Cheers RD
_________________ =1994 ED Wagon GLi body/EL Fairmont spec with *ALL* EL running gear.= |
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| snap0964 |
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Done this method about a month ago, does work quite well, lowered the back around 1.75-2.0".
You can use a long shaft screw driver sitting in the leaf holes to keep them aligned. Apart from an EL ghia ECU, an EL Fairmont ECU has the drivers to run the SSPS rack also. The plug should be present in the wiring (white colour), if it's EL futura or better.
_________________ 96 XH Longreach 'S': LPG, Alarm, 3.23:1 LSD, Cruise, Trip Comp, ABS, Power Windows, Mid Series Dome Lt, Climate Ctrl |
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| racedirector |
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Age: 63 Posts: 1584 Joined: 20th Mar 2005 Ride: EDL Fairmont Wagon/AU XR8 Ghia Location: Riverstone |
Ok, all done. Sorry, no pics of the process as we don't have a working camera and I wanted to get it done before it got too hot.
One tip I can offer for squashing the small leaf onto the rest though. Instead of using only clamps, get yourself some 5/16 threaded rod. Cut a section long enough to go through all leaves and put double nuts on one end. Then screw another nut from the top and keep tightening. As you get closer to the end you'll need assistance from the clamps but it goes alot quicker and keeps all the holes lined up in the process.. Once it is all snug, tightly clamp it and remove the threaded rod and replace with your high tensile bolt. The result? Well it is actually lower than my 1 1/2" blocks and has the advantage that my springs are not as close to the ground as they were. With heavy duty shocks fitted the ride is the same if not better than the blocks and it handles the school speed humps very well. Handles pretty good too although now I want a bigger sway bar in the front plus a rear swaybar to tighten it all up. All in all I am very happy with the result and have a more stock looking suspension than before. Off now to get the camera working so I can take some final result shots. Cheers RD
_________________ =1994 ED Wagon GLi body/EL Fairmont spec with *ALL* EL running gear.= |
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