Rebuild suspension on 83 eagle limited

[rootsyliving]

Looking to replace suspension on my 83 eagle limited. I have new shocks and tie rod ends. The front end is rickety to say the least. Can anyone recommend exactly what I should do to make the car ride better. I am willing to spend money to make it the best possible. A specific list would really help. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from someone with a  great plan. It's my daily driver in Mexico.

[carnuck]

Idler arm, pitman arm, drag link, upper control arm bushings (if the arms aren't rusty or the frame), Spring mount bushing, upper balljoint, lower balljoint. lower control arm bushings, strut rod bushings, anti-swaybar endlinks and bushings. Springs sagging? (do you have inner and outer tierods and adjusting sleeves?)

Idler slop does a LOT of it. Strut rod bushings are cheap and need doing several times a year.

[amcfool1]

hi, what carnuck said. i would add the upper coil donuts. I had my 82 Eagle front suspension completely and Professionally done about 5 years ago, cost about a grand. Maybe a little more now. Don't forget you will need a GOOD alignment after this. Having said that, it was one of the best investments, car drove straight, had MUCH better feeling of  control, was simply a pleasure to drive again. Hey, there is no free lunch! It's simply amazing that our cars have lasted as long as they have. The hardest part to find is the spring seat bushings. There's an AMC guy in Cali somewhere who sells them. I'll post if I can refind the name. Other parts should still be available. Also, while at it check/replace rag joint. Good luck! gz

[AMC of Houston]

Spring seat bushings are out there; but a tad pricey.   A "good deal" price would be about $35 each right now.   I stocked up a few years ago when a vendor was going out of business and had a bunch.   Rare Parts P/N 15151

[carnuck]

I was shocked Napa wants $70 each for them.

[AMC of Houston]

Best deal I see right now is the Just Suspension web site at $37.54 each - plus only 99 cents postage.

[rootsyliving]

Thanks everyone. Something happened today. 2 big bearings fell off the front right side. Was able to drive it but now need to fix before doing the front end. I forgot to say I'm in Baja with limited resource to parts. Going to try and make it happen. Thank you for the answers.

[rootsyliving]

Question? Last problem was a broken right side axle   The mechanic replaced with a new one $100 is the cost for the part down here in Mexico. I got the car back and a week later the first time I put it in 4 wheel drive it breaks. Rips right out. He says I need another one because my eagle has a lift on the front end (not stock coil springs) and he has to make a flange so it does not break when I put it in 4 wheel drive. The other side is fine.

My question is should I be responsible for paying for a new one again since it broke. Shouldn't he of put it in 4 wheel drive and tested before saying it was fixed. He did not test in 4 wheel drive

Any advice would be appreciated.

[mudkicker715]

Whoever he gets parts from has a warranty. However it does not cover his labor. I need a pic to verify lift or not.

[carnuck]

Warranty probably not in effect down there. You need '80s Chev S10 4x4 axles for the lift.

[rootsyliving]

Mechanic is claiming it was not a bad part.  That because the cool springs are not stock. Which I believe they are there is a gap from the axle to the transfer case and he needs to make a flange to fill the gap. When I put it in 4 wd since there was not enough play it pulled right out.  The other side is fine and before he put the new one on it was fine. The rubber boot broke and sand got in and we know wjw sand will do 

It drove fine after the initial breakage. This time it was not driveable.

Personally I feel he did something wrong and now I am paying for the same thing twice because of his mistake.
He thinks there is a lift because the previous owner put the biggest tires possible. It rubs when you make a tight turn.

[rootsyliving]

And the part was shipped from the U.S. 

[carnuck]

Are the axles sitting level or angled down towards the wheel? If level then tell him he is wrong about it being lifted. It's possible you may have been sent the wrong axle. Get the number for what was installed and I can find out if that was wrong or if it was misboxed.

[rootsyliving]

Now he is saying the front right tire or something is bent so the tire is pointed out a bit. II specifically asked him to check everything regarding the suspension and the front end .  He even wrote it on the receipt.  He is a reputable american mechanic living down here.

[carnuck]

Maybe the bracket for the strut arm is cracked? That fooled me once.