8 replies to this topic

[NurburgRinger]

(note: after posting realized that this is probably "radius" arm R&R, not the "control arm" that attaches to the torsion bars. My bad)

hey all,

In case there are others contemplating the same job I will be doing figured it might be helpful to share the details here.
Surely others have documented this job before but maybe not recently.

My '86 CRX Si has 95,000 miles and is dead stock except for a rather loud muffler the PO installed (we'll get to that someday).

The front struts were apparently replaced about 5 years ago with el cheapos by the PO, and I'm bottoming out over any halfway significant bumps so figured it's time to sing the Tokico blues.
Ordered the shocks off Ebay from www.motorsportsdirect.com for $260 shipped (should be here this afternoon).

Ordered control (radius) arms from Rockauto, going with a mix-and-match approach to save a few bucks plus I was curious what the differences may be between the brands.
http://www.rockauto....,parttype,10401

In the photos below:
"Beck/Arnley" part 1014107 regular price $93 on closeout (this side only, looks like I got the last one) for $28.89 + $5S+H for both arms, quite cheap!)
- right side, silver color, marked "made in Japan", fairly easy ball joint movement, nicely threaded and chamfered castle-nut hole

"McQuay-Norris" part FA1499 paid reg price $44.79 shipped from same warehouse as right side
- left side, black painted, no marking where made, very tight ball joint movement, also nice enough threads and overall finish

"Mevotech" strut mounts MP901939 $13.38x2
seem to be well made, zinc plated hardware

I forgot to buy new radius bushings so will be ordering those today, from Rockauto I guess since don't want to drop $75 on the full Poly kit from Summit).
Hope to put the struts in next weekend, if not will have to wait a few weeks but will post pics.
I'd love to put in 24mm torsion bars just not in the budget right now... anybody with a used set for sale please let me know
cheers!

[NurburgRinger]

Over the weekend installed the front Tokicos, top shock mounts and radius arms.
Pretty easy job (about 4 hours taking my time), just needed to run out to the hardware store on the scooter to buy new radius-to-control arm nuts and bolts, the old ones were pretty knarly.

VERY happy with the results. The front end wasn't 'loose' before, but it was bottoming out on relatively small bumps. Totally solved now, great ride, no bottoming, no strange noises etc.
No rush to do the rear shocks, maybe in a month or so.
cheers!


jacked up



glad I bought this $20 Harbor Freight tool. Passenger side ball joint was in so tight no way the fork-and-hammer method would have worked.


new and old



my helper



new parts (re-used the sway bar bushings, looked ok just moved them around and replaced the rusty center nut and bolt).

[Greg Gauper]

Comment based on your location...
Where the heck did you find such a good rust free car in Wisconsin
Wow! Nice find!

[NurburgRinger]

Comment based on your location...
Where the heck did you find such a good rust free car in Wisconsin
Wow! Nice find!

thanks - the answer of course is that it's not a WI car

Found it on Craigslist when I lived in Philly 3 years ago. Never driven in the winter, always garaged, etc. Really lucky, I know!

There is a bit of rust in the passenger side fender, pretty much the entire sunroof panel is toast, and a there's a small spot starting on the lower windshield corner (none at all that I can see underneath).
Tomorrow will be getting a fiberglass replacement panel painted and the fender rust fixed so it'll be quite close to rust-free.

Whevener I seea 1g CRX in Milwaukee (maybe once per month, tops) it's hard to believe they're still driving there's so much rust. Winters here are merciless, which is why mine hibernates from ~Nov-March in a friend's warehouse while I beat up an old Jeep.

cheers

[F22hb]

I ordered mevotech lower radius arms about a week ago also. They look pretty good. Putting them on the gf's 3g soon, rockauto messed up and sent me two right sides so I'm waiting for the return to go through to get the left side one. I did kyb gr-2's with the 3/4" kakabox mod. I'm also doing an es master bushing kit and moog tie rod ends too while I'm down there. I was very happy with the price/quality of the mevotech too. I'd hate to have her loose a balljoint on the freeway or something and the boots on the stock ones were ripped. If we have any problems with them in the future I'll post here to add info.

[dtpten]

i just bought that same tool from harbor freight. a great time saver imo!!

good lookin crx!

dtpten

[NurburgRinger]

I ordered mevotech lower radius arms about a week ago also.

Rockauto doesn't list 'Mevotech' arms for the '86 CRX ('just' Dorman, McQuay-Norris, Raybestos, Beck/Arnley, or ACDelco from $42-$122 each) are they Integra ones?

Doing the shocks at the same time?

BTW - when I ordered the TRW radius arm bushings Rockauto sent me two boxes, but one of them only had one bushing instead of two.
They manned up and sent me another 2 but they just arrived, last weekend I installed 3 new and the best looking one of the old ones, so now I have 2 new ones I don't need.
If anybody wants these I'll send them for $10 (from Rockauto they'll be close to $20 incl shipping for 2).
PM if you want them.

thanks dp - agreed, was tempted to cheap out and buy the $7 fork but the $20 tool is a much better way to pop the ball joints out.

cheers
Kurt

[F22hb]

Rockauto doesn't list 'Mevotech' arms for the '86 CRX ('just' Dorman, McQuay-Norris, Raybestos, Beck/Arnley, or ACDelco from $42-$122 each) are they Integra ones?

Doing the shocks at the same time?

BTW - when I ordered the TRW radius arm bushings Rockauto sent me two boxes, but one of them only had one bushing instead of two.
They manned up and sent me another 2 but they just arrived, last weekend I installed 3 new and the best looking one of the old ones, so now I have 2 new ones I don't need.
If anybody wants these I'll send them for $10 (from Rockauto they'll be close to $20 incl shipping for 2).
PM if you want them.

thanks dp - agreed, was tempted to cheap out and buy the $7 fork but the $20 tool is a much better way to pop the ball joints out.

cheers
Kurt

Thats weird.
pt# MEVOTECH MK9595
and MEVOTECH MK9593
Maybe I got the last of them? Not sure, I don't see them listed anymore lol.
Just shipped the new arm out today so I should have it soonish.
And yea we did gr-2's all around. All four shocks were blown from the car being lowered and the front was constantly bottoming out the shock over bumps. I was really surprised at the $130 price tag on a full set of kyb's and was surprised at the difference they made. I can see why they have a good reputation on this site.

[TeninoFred]

Thats weird.
pt# MEVOTECH MK9595
and MEVOTECH MK9593
Maybe I got the last of them? Not sure, I don't see them listed anymore lol.
Just shipped the new arm out today so I should have it soonish.
And yea we did gr-2's all around. All four shocks were blown from the car being lowered and the front was constantly bottoming out the shock over bumps. I was really surprised at the $130 price tag on a full set of kyb's and was surprised at the difference they made. I can see why they have a good reputation on this site.

Hey F22hb,

how did the Mevotech's work out? I just ordered both for my car. They are still there on Rockauto. They are listed as "Radius Arm and Ball Joint Assembly" though.