#1970 firebird full
#1970 firebird free

If the control arms are bent, it’s difficult to see, but added shims may compensate for this. To verify if the front subframe has been bent, see if the alignment holes line up correctly. If the front end wasn’t properly straightened after an accident, but rather had more shims added to attain the correct alignment, it’s a problem. If one side has many more shims than the other side, it can indicate an alignment problem or possibly some accident damage. You can closely inspect the alignment shims at the upper control armmounting points and count how many are installed on each side. Even the smallest pothole or a dip in the road can cause a worn-out suspension to react improperly, resulting in an accident. Sagging springs, broken ball joints, and failed bushings all can affect how your Firebird handles everyday driving. The suspension should be in top condition not only for high-performance applications, but also for safety. A good floor jack also is needed and a hydraulic press is necessary for pressing the front suspension bushings and ball joints out and back in.īefore you tear into the car and start disassembling the suspension, you should perform a thorough inspection to ascertain its current condition. The tools you need to work on your suspension are a pickle fork, coil-spring compressor, hammer, sockets, and wrenches.

#1970 firebird full

I recommend removing one side at a time and re-installing it before moving on to the other side unless you have a lift and a full complement of shop tools. Make sure that the body is properly supported. It can be dangerous because the front coil springs are under intense pressure and become lethal weapons if improperly removed or installed. Rebuilding a suspension, especially the front, is extremely difficult and dirty work. After 30-plus years, suspension components such as ball joints, tie-rod ends, shocks, and springs are often worn out and need replacement. Up front, the 1970– 1981 Firebirds were equipped with unequal-length upper and lower control arms. After 33 years or more, the rubber bushings have most likely dry rotted and cracked, rendering them unable to perform their job properly. The bushings and ball joints are wear items and are prone to failure from either use or age or both.

The suspension must be in good working order for the car to handle properly and drive as it did when new. The suspension of your Firebird has an enormous impact on the driving experience. You can copy and paste this link to share:

#1970 firebird free

SHARE THIS ARTICLE: Please feel free to share this article on Facebook, in Forums, or with any Clubs you participate in. For a comprehensive guide on this entire subject you can visit this link: LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK HERE This Tech Tip is From the Full Book, TRANS AM & FIREBIRD RESTORATION: 1970-1/2 – 1981. Similar to other GM chassis, the second-generation F-Body featured double-stamped A-arm front suspension, and the ball joints on a spindle join the upper and lower arms. The Chevy and Pontiac teams in Trans-Am racing (as well as GM itself) developed the geometry of this suspension and it was a big step forward from the previous suspension in 1969. The chassis and suspension of the Firebird is GM’s second-generation F-Body so it shares its architecture with the 1970–1981 Camaro.