Front lateral link replacement

[Supreme Cutlass]

Is a Torque angle meter absolutley necessary? It says I need one for replacing my front lateral link, but nobody seems to have it. Is there something I can do in place of one?

 

Also what's the size of the bolts?

[Supreme Cutlass]

Oh, and even though the service manual says you need to "lower the tank" that's a lie. You have to drop the whole damn thing... stupid gm. And how do you get the exhaust heat shield off???

[94CutlassSLCoupe]

the exhaust heat shield has two small self tapping screws in it...bolts are 19 or 21, i can't remember

[Supreme Cutlass]

the exhaust heat shield has two small self tapping screws in it...bolts are 19 or 21, i can't remember

are we talking about the same shield? the one by my tank has three 7mm bolts, I just cant get the damn thing out from over the exhaust.

[Supreme Cutlass]

Well, either way, I got the tank out, and the old lateral link out. I just hit another snag. Right now the knucke is angled like when the old bent link was still in. How am I supposed to twist it enough to get the new link attached to the knuckle?

[Guest TurboSedan]

the exhaust heat shield has two small self tapping screws in it...bolts are 19 or 21, i can't remember

are we talking about the same shield? the one by my tank has three 7mm bolts, I just cant get the damn thing out from over the exhaust.

 

it helps alot to undo the rubber exhaust hangers (the ones near the center on the straight piece) so the exhaust hangs down a little and you can push the pipe out of the way. you should be able to get to the exhaust heat shield bolts then.

[Guest TurboSedan]

Well, either way, I got the tank out, and the old lateral link out. I just hit another snag. Right now the knucke is angled like when the old bent link was still in. How am I supposed to twist it enough to get the new link attached to the knuckle?

 

my guess is that you'll have to relieve the pressure the leaf spring is putting on the knuckle. i just tore into my rear suspension a few weeks ago. i don't have that problem with coilovers, so i'm guessing that would be it.

[Supreme Cutlass]

That would make sense.. just use a block of wood on the leaf and jack it up, right?

[Guest TurboSedan]

yup

[RJansen658]

If you have a ball joint c-clamp type press or a large enough regular c-clamp, take a thin piece of wood, put it against the bottom of the fiberglass spring, then hook the ball joint press over the frame/body above the spring, and tighten it up to draw and hold the spring up. I find this to be a safer method of relieving the pressure, but I usually have the car on a hoist where the floor jack method is impossible.

[Supreme Cutlass]

Well, I just needed most of the pressure off to turn the knuckle, so the jack was sufficient. (I finished today btw, everything went fine, no leaks, new pump works awesome.)