ALL OUT

All the front suspension, apart from the main damper struts and springs, are now out. All of the old perished rubber bushes have been removed. the photo below shows my home made bush puller in operation on the main front sub frame, removing the bushes through which the steering rack is bolted. Effectively a length of threaded rod, a socket large enough for the old bush to be drawn into and a smaller socket at the other end to push the old bush through. A nut and spanner at each end and as the nuts are tightened so the bush is pushed out.

All of the components have been degreased and the suspension arms and all of the various brackets have been scrubbed of paint. However when I spoke to Francis at Adept Industrial Finishers, Thornton Heath, he said they prefer to shot blast all components themselves, before spraying, thus ensuring they are absolutely free of old paint and guaranteeing a perfect new paint job. I happily agreed, knowing that it would be impossible for me to thoroughly get into all the nooks and crevasses of the sub frame, so I just ensured that the anti roll bar, drag struts and the sub frame where cleaned of crud and grease.

All of the nuts and bolts have been cleaned up and threads inspected and apart from a couple of slightly rounded nuts all are serviceable.

I have just dropped of the suspension arms to Russ who said he would get the ball joints pressed out, at his friendly local garage, apparently this is almost impossible to do without a ten ton press, when they come back to me it is off to the spray shop, with all the bits and bobs, for a nice powder coat of  glossy black and then it will be time to get it all back onto the car. In the meantime I must order up the replacement ball joints and the odd nut and bolt.