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Has anyone rebuilt the front end suspension on a ‘63 F-85?
mine feels like it wants to almost walk side to side going down the road above 40 or so. So I’m thinking it’s all original and time for a rebuild or upgrade? Not sure where to start.
Your suspension parts don't look that old. Before buying parts and tearing into it, you might want to check for slop in the ball joints. Also, pay particular attention to the idler arm, which is a weak link in these cars. And of course, check your alignment. What are those wheels and tires? That can also have an effect on how the car feels.
Evaluating tire condition is a good suggestion. First, evaluate the date code on the tires - any tire older than 10 years should be replaced. Tires don't age evenly - the sidewalls may age sooner than the remainder of the tire. If the sidewalls lose their rigidity they'll produce a soft, spongy sloppy feel. Second, evaluate if the tires have an "R" stamped anywhere (generally outside the are of the TIN). Retreads ("R") are fine w/in limits. Obviously they don't retread the sidewalls - only the treads. Therefore, be mindful if they are retreads the sidewalls have long been deteriorating before the treads begin to wear. Third, I believe I can see a "plug" in the left rear tire - very near the sidewall. A plug in itself is not suspicious, depending how long it's been there & what caused the hole to begin with - a puncture, manufacturing defect, etc. All around, tire evaluation is a good suggestion.
All good advice ^^^ Keep this in mind, without checking the condition of each part first the chance of actually replacing the defective ones is low unless every part is replaced, many of the replacement parts maybe of lesser quality than current ones and it wastes time and money.
Where to start IMO is as suggested, check for loose parts and replace as necessary, align it to specs and examine the tires.