1971 Ford Maverick Suspension Rebuild

Replacing a 40 year old suspension can be a challenging task. After 40 years of being together these parts do not like to come apart. With the suspension provided by Laurel Mountain Mustang we began the suspension rebuild.

Here is what we were beginning with

The Replacement Parts sent to us by Laurel Mountain Mustangs. Laurel Mountain Mustang Master front Suspension kit for 1971 Maverick PN: MSK6873. This kit includes complete upper and lower control arms, sway bar end links and bushings, strut rod bushings, coil spring saddles, coil spring cushions. Laurel Mountain Mustang 7 pc. steering kit for 1971 Maverick. This kit includes inner tie rod ends, outer tie rod ends, idler arm, and tie rod adjusting sleeves.

First Step in the process is to loosen the strut rod from the core support and the lower control arm and remove the sway bar from the lower control arms and sway bar mounts.Laurel Mountain Mustang Master front Suspension kit for 1971 Maverick PN: MSK6873. This kit includes complete upper and lower control arms, sway bar end links and bushings, strut rod bushings, coil spring saddles, coil spring cushions.

After removing the sway bar and strut rods now is the time to paint them if not replacing with new ones.

Next loosen the lower control arm from spindle and them from the frame. This may take some persuasion and penetrating oil.

Old lower control arm vs the new lower control arm

Now replace the old lower control arm with the New lower control arm

The upper control arms are next, which are probably the most difficult of the whole rebuild. Start off by compressing and removing the spring.

After the spring is removed then you can seperate the ball joint from the spindel and start unbolting the the upper control arms. On the maverick with a 302 it can be a pain, as the upper control arm bolts are hard to get to.

After the bolts are removed the upper control arm should fall out.

Put the new upper control arm in and tighten the bolts down and now replace the spring making sure the end of the spring is sitting against the spring seat. Now you can reinstall the sway bar and strut rods with the new bushings.

Next up is the steering components. Start by unbolting the in the inner and outer tie rod ends.Laurel Mountain Mustang 7 pc. steering kit for 1971 Maverick. This kit includes inner tie rod ends, outer tie rod ends, idler arm, and tie rod adjusting sleeves.

After the old tie rods were removed we installed the new ones.

The last part install is the idler arm. Start by unbolting the old idler arm from the center link and then loosen the bolts attaching it to the frame and it should come out. After the old one falls out install the new one by first connecting it to the center link and then bolting it to the frame.

All the parts are installed the last thing needed to be done is the grease all the ball joints and tie rod ends.

Finished product

Contact:

Laurel Mountain Mustang

1-888-925-7669