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Hello all, is it possible to install a needle bearing kit for the front struts without popping out the ball joint and tie rod end? Any advice would be welcome.

1980 TR7 Spider DHC 2.0 Ac Delco Electronic Ignition.

Yes and no!
You have to disconnect the ball joint, but not the tie rod end.

Do you want to know the easy way to disconnect the ball joint?



If you look carefully at the strut housing in this photo you will notice that there is an indention at the bottom of the cartridge housing right above the ball joint mounting tab. On the car, you will see a castle nut with a cotter pin installed. You will need a stout flat washer with a hole just large enough to fit over the ball joint stud and a socket just deep enough to slip over the stud and slide right under the bottom of the cartridge tube.

Remove the cotter pin and just break the castle nut free. Slip the washer over the stud and let it rest on top of the castle nut. Now slip the socket over the stud and push it up against the bottom of the cartridge tube. Slowly start loosening the castle nut. This will push the socket up against the bottom of the tube. Continue turning the nut and it will push the ball joint stud right out of the hole in the tab.

Undo the brake line connector from the strut, compress the spring and then remove the three nuts from the top of the strut housing. Lower the strut housing from under the wing.

[url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Site/Triumph%20TR-7.html"]Photos of needle bearing kit installation[/url]

Have fun, drive fast & safe, be kewl,

jclay

Thanks, I will try it. Worst case I take it all apart as you did. Did you notice a diffrence in handling once istalled, or did TS sell me a bill of goods...
Your setup really looks great. The goal is to update all the rubber upfront. Why did you use a come along on the front stabalizer bar. Is there that much side to side pressure on the lower control arm?

1980 TR7 Spider DHC 2.0 Ac Delco Electronic Ignition.

Replace the rubber with poly bushings.

Come-a-long? Well, we all make mistakes! You should install the sway bar first. I know now that you remove and rebuild the struts first, then remove the front sway bar and replace the bushings on it. If you are installing an ani dive kit, do it next as well as the anti sway bar.

Then put the 1st half of the poly bushings on. NOW, put on the lower suspension arms and the last of the sway bar bushings, but don't tighten them. Install the struts. Lower the car on the wheels and tighten the lower suspension arm mounting bolts on the frame. Then tighten up the sway bar nuts.

I put everything together and then tried to install the sway bar.

PS, did I notice a difference? Well, I also installed a new lower steering bushing before I drove the car. I got the steering shaft too tight and now I am fighting the friction in the shaft at the lower bushing. So I can't really judge the efficiency of the roller bearing kit.

A bit off topic, jclay, what strut insert is this?

Leon
'94 Eagle Talon AWD Turbo 613whp <powered by Mitsu 4G63T
'80 TR7 Spyder GS-T <undergoing Mitsu 4G63T transplant
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2472999

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by jclay</i>

Replace the rubber with poly bushings.

Come-a-long? Well, we all make mistakes! You should install the sway bar first.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I didn't put sway bar in first but I got it in. didn't use a come-along. Can't remenber exactly how as it was a year ago and kind of a purple haze. I mght have undid the lower link bolt at the crossmember?

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

Sorry, Leon,

We are not as high-tech as you! You have a really great car!

That is the left front STOCK strut!

jclay,

I was thrown off by that stange looking threaded sleeve [:I] That isn't stock [;)]

Leon
'94 Eagle Talon AWD Turbo 613whp <powered by Mitsu 4G63T
'80 TR7 Spyder GS-T <undergoing Mitsu 4G63T transplant
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2472999

Stock has 4 notches on the retainer nut, new cartridges come with new nuts, only 2 notches.