1990 Imperial Front End Work

[Brad Hogg <roadhogg@xxxxxxx>]

This car does have the equal length axles.  I've pulled and pryed and I
can't get the right one to come free.  The right axle actually goes into a
half-shaft rather than directly into the transaxle.  My Haynes manual is not
very detailed and often has information that chearly does not apply to my
car.

I had no trouble with dropping the K frame down and loosetening the sway bar
etc either.  I want to remove the lower control arms though so I can have my
mechanic press new ball joints into them at this point.  Those control arms
bolt on is an unusual way.  The one bolt comes out fine but the other, the
access hole is too small to get a socket in over the nut...I mean it is JUST
too small.  Why wouldn't Chrysler make that hole a hair larger so you could
get a socket in there??

My projects for today are:

1. Remove remains of right drive shaft from car.
2. Remove U-joint from old rack.
3. Go to parts store and get new drive shafts, tie rod ends, ball joints and
a power steering return hose.

I should then be all set to re-assemble this thing.

(Insert work on the Imperial here)

Finally, in frustration, I removed the "half-shaft" that extends from the
transaxle to the right drive shaft, along with the drive shaft.  Actually,
the only part of the right drive shaft that is attached to the half shaft is
the inner portion of the inner joint.  The rest of the shaft came off
easily.  What I am now trying to accomplish is to remove the rest of the
right drive shaft from the half shaft.  I have pounded on it quite a bit and
even though I am sure I have moved it, it just isn't happening.  I am afraid
I'll damage it so they won't take it in return and that will cost me
$125.00.  I am thinking I'll just take it to my mechanic and have him remove
it as he has the tools to do it.

I got that U-joint off the spline.  I used my small propane torch to heat it
up and then a few solid whacks with my 32oz hammer it came right off.  I'm
glad it's keyed so I am sure to get the steering wheel centred again when I
reassemble it.  I bought the tie rod ends today so I have everything I
should need to reinstall the new rack.  I was going to replace the power
steering return hose also but the parts guy said it wasn't listed and that
the parts book recommends just using a regular piece of hose.  I guess I'll
go with the one that is already on the car and hope it doesn't ever leak, I
don't want to do this job again!

What I am wondering is, since I intend to remove the lower control arms from
the cross member "K" frame so I can have my mechanic press new ball joints
into them, is it going to be a P.I.T.A. to reinstall the lower control arms
AFTER I reinstall the "K" frame into the car?  If not, I'll go ahead and
finish the rack job and do the ball joints and drive shafts in a week or so.
I have to wait to buy the drive shafts and ball joints anyway, because I
have run out of cash until payday next friday.

So, the plan now is...
1. Install the new rack and K frame.
2. Take the right drive axle and the lower control arms to my mechanic this
week so he can separate the axle and install the new ball joints.
3. Next Friday after work, pick up the separated drive shaft and the lower
control arms from the mechanic.
4. Next weekend, buy the drive axles and install them.
5. Install the lower control arms.
6. Install the new brake rotors and linings in the front.
7. Next weekend, go to salvage yard and look for various front and rear
brake parts that need replacing. (I'll detail that project in another
thread)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brad Hogg" <roadhogg@xxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: IML: 1990 Imperial Front End Work


> I finally got some time this evening to continue working on my 1990
> Imperial.  If you recall, in the last episode, I was attempting to remove
> the steering rack from the car.  I had removed everything neccessary but
was
> stuck on how to remove the rack from the steering shaft.  Today, I remove
> the roll pin that was holding them together and proceeded to try to slide
> the U-jount off the rack.  I never did accomplish this.  While working at
> it, about 5 inches of the steering shaft came apart from above the rack.
I
> hope this is ok.  It looks like it was designed to do so.  I still have to
> remove the U-joint from the rack so I can install it on the new rack.
>
> When I install the new rack, I HAVE TO replace the pressure hose but I
think
> since this is such a pain, I'm going to replace the return hose too.
>
> The other problem I have at this point is that when I removed the right
> drive axle, it came apart at the inner joint.  I can't seem to get the
rest
> of the inner joint to come off the car.  The right and left axles are the
> same part so from looking the the left one, that came off like nobody's
> business, it looks like it should just slide right off too.  That isn't
> happening.
>
> If anyone has ideas on how to solve these little problems, I'm open to
> suggestions.