disc brake swap

[ibcuda]

I'm swapping in the later model disk brakes in my 68 Barracuda is it necesary to loosin the torsion bars or can I just put the jack stands under the lower control arm? Thanx

[dwc43]

I'd put a stand under the frame and put the jack under the lower control arm. Then knock it loose from the ball joint and let it hit the jack. That way you're still in control of it and it wont go all the way to the floor.

[DartGT66]

Why not just loosen the bars?

[dwc43]

Why back off the bars and screw up the front end alignment? Just knock the ball joint loose and let the it fall about an inch till it hits the saddle on the jack and then swap out the spindle. Then just hit a pump on the jack and put the ball joint nut back on and you're done. No need to readjust the bars trying to get the ride height back to where it belongs or needing to readjust the alignment too.

[John Kunkel]

I would just set the car on jackstands under the lower control arms, the spindles will come off without doing anything to the torsion bars.

[ibcuda]

John and dw are right no need to mess with the t-bars, put a stand under the lower arm no problem until I tried to install the new upper control arms with new bushings, and the bushings are to far apart. The bushing itself fits in the bracket like it should but there about 1/4-1/2" to far apart for both to line up and go in and it doesnt look like they can be pressed in any farther. I dropped them off at my alignment shop late this afternoon hopefully they can come up with a solution. Anybody else have this problem? Also for what its worth they are the ones who installed the bushings for me and the uca's are off a 74 Valiant

[dwc43]

Are you sure that you got the right bushings? I've never run into that problem before.

[aarracer]

ibcuda

Beware. I believe this conversion with stock parts will widen your front track by 3/4" per side. I did this on my old 69 A body about 10 years ago, and if I remember correctly, you only need the later disc brake lower control arms and spindles etc., not the uppers, or the other way round, but not both.
But it works good.
Anyone can chime in here!

[ibcuda]

O.K. I picked up my uca's today from the shop and they took out the new McQuay bushings and put in MOOGs the McQuays were to wide, so they slipt right in. I wish I would have known that I woudnt have had too buy two sets

[dwc43]

Glad to hear you got it fixed. I thought there was something funny with those bushings. Moogs one of the best ways to go anyways.