Hi

I am rebuilding the entire front end on a 68 Buick Skylark which has 130k mile on it. I know, its not an Oldsmobile but you guys are the only people I trust I think its just about the same as a cutlass anyways as far as the front suspension goes...

I am wondering, is it worthwhile to change the joints in the steering linkage that go between the pitman arm/idler arm and the cross bar? Can they even be changed? They look to be part of the cross bar, I'm not sure how to remove them.

(cross bar being the bar that the inner tie rod ends bolt to, I don't really know what to call it)

Also, is it worthwhile to change the inner and outer tie rod ends? Idler Arm? They don't seem to have anything wrong with them except being very rusty. They don't seem to have excessive play in them. I don't think all the grease points on this car were greased as often as they should have been however. They appeared to be without grease and have water in them...

I have changed everything else (springs, bushings, ball joints, shocks, drum to disk conversion) Once removed, it was obvious that the bushings and ball joints were worn out. This project started because the springs were snapped...

So what do you think, finish the job and change everything? Maybe change just the tie rod ends? Maybe I am getting carried away? I am going to have the front end aligned when I'm done so I don't want to be changing this stuff later which would require another alignment...

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it!!!

 

Do it right and replace everything.. the "cross bar" is called the center link, and it is replaced as a unit.
Check out http://www.p-s-t.com/pc-534-21-oldsm...a-1968-88.aspx

 

It is exactly the same as a Cutlass.

And I agree.

While, under normal circumstances, I would say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," since you've got it all apart, you should definitely change the rest of that stuff. It's not that much more money, and you'll be glad you did later.

PST has some decent package deals, as do other suppliers.

- Eric