Lots of people have gotten away with not needing an alignment after replacing theirtie rod ends. If you measure correctly it will be the same as it was before. If you needed an alignment before replacing the tie rods, and put them back on as they were, of course youre still going to need an alignment.

 

If everything just came apart, I would almost classify it as easy. But don't count on that, doing mine took 3 days (can't work after dark).

Pinch bolt can be hell. It took smacking it with a mini sledge and a knockout punch for at least an hour for each side before they budged. And that is after 2 days of PB Blaster soak.

Upper CAs aren't bad after that. Just drop the whole strut out and work with it ouside the car.

Lowers weren't fun. For some reason I couldn't lower the subframe on the passenger side low enough to get the bolt out. Dunno why. Hacksaw plus new bolt installed from other direction got me past that problem. Happy torqueing.

Buy all new hardware. I cut half of my CAs out of the car. All the bolts were seizing, darn northern road salt.

Buy new sway bar links with it as well.

Special tools, get a ball joint puller. I used the kit they have at Autozone instead of the fork puller and liked it.
Hacksaw blades just in case too.

Make sure you torque all your bolts with the suspension at ride height level. For this, I measured the distance from the fender to the center of the wheel while car was on the ground. With the car on jackstands, you can take your jack, place it under the knuckle and jack the suspension up until the center of the wheel is at the correct height. Then go through and torque everything to spec with a big honkin torque wrench. Actually you need a little one and a big one. TRE specs are very small and the CA specs are high.

BP Blaster is your friend, but it will get all over. Clean your wheel sensors when you are done. Mine got PB all over them and the ABS started acting up. Went away as soon as I cleaned the PB off both of the sensors.

I installed full Meyle kit about 6 months ago and everything is great. I have always heard Meyle is the kit to get.

Get an alignment for TREs or for CAs. TREs are definite even if you count threads. CAs should be close, but the all those new parts could easily throw out the alignment since they won't exactly match the CAs you took off.

Have fun or at least invite a friend over toshare in the misery. J/K, just be patient and block out your weekend and you will be ok. Good DIY.

 

Sometimes a little heat goes a long way, it may help with some of the stubborn bolts.

 

4

 

I loosened the one big bolt holding up the subframe, and then just used a prybar to get it to lower some more... it would spring up and down with the prybar. I just pried it down, got the bolt out, and let it up again... pried it down to install the new bolt. I put the lower bolts in the same direction they came out... the uppers however, I put in the other direction. I am quick to pop off my coilover, so now the bolts both come out to the inside... I don't have to remove that upper bracket thing next time.

 

LOL,









As you can tell, I like visual stimulus.

 

I recommend buying some good mechanics gloves as well, i did one side without and your hands can get torn up. the other side was much better with them. Someone else said take it as a learning experience, you will definitely need some good tools and a BFH. it can get really frustrating at times, all i can say is just make sure not to do anything stupid when that happens. All in all its worth it to do your self, IMO.

 

Thanks for all the help guys! This is why I like these forums. If you ask the right questions you will get a lot of help. LOL

I just ordered the Mayle kit and also new brake rotors since mine are almost gone. (I already have the pads). Should be here later this week or beginning of next week. I have until the 6th to get it all done!

Josh

 

All I can say is, way to go.
For all the things you've posted, and changed your mind, or whatever, you are doing yourself well to attempt this DIY and learn some new skills.
Glad to see you do it, take a few pics, and good luck.
Did you look at the write-ups on audiworld?
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel43.shtml