Prep
Body
Frt suspensionCooling
Steering column
Horn
Fuel Cell
Heater A/C
Water lines
Brakes
Engine
Rear Suspension
Exhaust
Shifter
Seat belts
Body
Pedals
Electrical
Battery
Body seals
Interior
Final
Parts
Diagrams
When you purchase the front suspension, be sure to get all the parts necessary to complete the installation on your kit.
- Diagram
Parts
1. Right and left upper control arms with mounting bolts and nuts.
2. Right and left lower control arms with mounting bolts and nuts.
3. Right and left lower strut rods with washers, rubber bushings, and nuts.
4. Right and left spindles.
5. Right and left brake calipers with mounting bolts (special bolts - make sure you get them with your front suspension).
6. Right and left brake rotors with bearings, washers, spindle nuts, and dust covers.
7. 1973 Pinto rack and pinion steering unit with rubber u-joint flex connector. (Need the female splined portion that connects to the steering shaft on the unit.)
8. Rubber flex hose for brakes (from the chassis to the brake calipers).
Before installing the suspension there are some inspections necessary and light modifications required before assembly.
Inspections
1. Inspect all rubber boots for cracks and breaks. Replace where necessary.
2. Check all ball joints and make sure they work freely with no binding or excessive play. Replace where necessary.
3. Check control arm bushings for bad cracks or missing chunks, etc. Replace where necessary.
4. Disassemble steering rack. Do so by taking off both inspection plates, 2 bolts each. Make sure you keep the proper shims and spacers with the proper plates so when you reassemble, the proper gear lash can be retained. Pull the pinion gear out and inspect the teeth for broken or chipped areas. With the pinion gear out of the housing inspect the rack. Slide it back and forth looking for broken or even missing teeth.
This is a common problem with Pintos that sustained front end collisions. If everything looks okay, then reassemble. Check rubber boots for breaks or cracks. Replace where necessary. Check rod ends for proper operation. Replace where necessary.
5. Brake calipers - Usually, if the piston rubbers are okay with no leaks it isn’t necessary to rebuild them. If there are apparent leaks, rebuild them.
6. Brake rotors - Inspect for grooves or bad spots. If there is a bad surface, have them turned.
7. Use new brake pads.
8. Check the wheel bearings for pitted or unnecessary wear. If worn, replace.
9. Use new bearing seals.
10. Always use new cotter pins where applicable.
Modifications
Only two modifications are necessary for the front suspensions.
1. Drill out the shock mounting holes in the lower control arms. (use a ½" drill)
2. The lower control arm needs to have the shock body hole enlarged on the outboard side approximately 1" and grind off the stock spring locator flange on the top side.
After all inspections and modifications are complete, this would be a good time to prepare and paint all front suspension pieces before installation.
Installation of Front Suspension
When installing suspension parts either front or rear, always use fine thread bolts, grade 8 quality. Use lock washers, safety nuts and cotter pins where applicable.
Lower control arm assembly
1. Install strut rod in the front mounting bracket using washers, rubber bushings and nut. Do not tighten nut.
2. Install lower control arms using fine thread bolts, ½ - 20 NF, through chassis and rubber bushings on the control arm. Keep strut rod on top of the lower control arm. Use ½" large washer under bolt head and under nut. Also use a lock washer at the nut end.
3. Attach the strut rod to the upper side of the lower control arm. The studs on the strut rods go through the two holes on the outboard side of the lower control arm. Use special nuts provided with the front suspension on the studs. They are a locking nut.
4. Tighten nut on the front of the strut rod.
Upper control arm assembly
Put the upper control arm in place. Install the mounting bolts through the bottom of the frame bracket, through the upper control arm cross arm, with the nut located on the top side.
This will make it easier to loosen and tighten nuts with the body on the car when setting the front end alignment.
Spindle Installation
Install spindles between the upper and lower control arms. Ball joint studs go in tapered holes provided in the spindles. When tightening nuts, line up the nut slots with the hole in the ball joint studs.
When tight, install cotter pins and spread open at the split end. This will prevent the nuts from loosening when in operation.
Installing the Front Brakes
1. Make sure on the inside of the brake rotor that the bearing cavity is clean of debris.
2. Repack inner and outer bearings.
3. Install inner bearing and install new bearing seal.
4. Apply a thin coat of bearing grease with your finger to the sealing surface of the seal. A dry seal can cause the bearing to tear while in operation.
5. Install rotor to spindle. Push all the way on, install outer bearing then the spindle washer and then the nut. Tighten nut enough to take out all of the in and out movement. Nut tightening will take place after installing the wheels.
6. Install the brake calipers using the stock mounting bolts (these are special bolts made by Ford). Make sure brake pads are in good shape or new - preferably new.
Installing the Steering Rack
Install the steering rack at the mounts located on the chassis. Use (4) 3/8 - 24 NC. 1" long grade 5 or higher bolts with lock washers and nuts. Attach steering rod ends to the spindles where provided. Use castelated nuts. Align the nut slots with the holes in the ball joint stud and install a cotter pin. Spread the pin at the split end.
Assembling the Front Shocks
Assemble the shocks using the directions supplied by Koni.
Front shocks # 82Z-1907
Rear shocks # 82Z-1908
Front Springs 175 lb. spring rate
Rear Springs 300 lb. spring rate
If you cannot find a marking on the springs, you can determine the difference by the wire size of the spring. Small size is 175 lb. and the large size is 300 lb.
Installation of Front Shocks
1. With the aluminum spring tower up, slip the shock down through the top control arm. Attach the shock using fine thread bolts, ½ - 20 NF Grade 8, on the bottom control arm.
2. Attach the top of the shock in the upper shock mount on the chassis.
3. Center the shock on the upper and lower bolts (shock bolts) and measure for spacers.
a. Material used for spacers: ½" inside diameter mild steel tubing; thin wall .030 - .050 wall thickness. These spacers will keep the shock located in the proper location during operation.
b. Cut spacers and install.
c. Tighten bolts, use a lock washer under all nuts.