Well, I have an s14 and over the winter I bought a few parts to help with the handling or feel of the car…
inner/outer tie rods, rear upper control arms, rear traction links & rear toe links. I have never installed any of this before and its likely the most difficult project I’ve undertaken on my car so far. I want to ask what would be the best route for getting this on my car, since a lot of you have probably worked on that area of the car more than enough to know whats best…
Just go at it with a socket set and take off my subframe, installing the items all at once and getting an alignment after
buying another subframe and installing these things then swapping it with my original in my garage where I would have all the time in the world since i wont have to rush to get it back on the car to be able to drive it… (then getting an alignment done)
Taking it to a shop and having them install and do the alignment
*Note: I also don’t have much money and even buying another subframe would be putting a strain on my funds sooo what would be the best course of action for me to take??
you dont have to remove the rear subframe to install multi link. and theres no need to buy another subframe. doing those arms is not as difficult as you think just unbolt the stock ones and bolt in new ones. if you plan to do it at home, just measure the length of each stock arm (bolt center to bolt center) and set the multilink to the same lenth. just remember to tighten the bolts at the spindle with the suspension loaded so as to not tear the stock rubber bushings that are in the spindle when you lower the car.shouldnt take more than a day.
same goes for setting the tie rods. i would suggest buying a pickle fork from canadian tire or princess auto because it makes seperating tie rod ends much easier. and try to find some new bands or mechanics wire to secure the dust boots
and ideally you should get an alignment after all that. or just have them do it all.
Definitely go for the alignment after. If you do decide to drop the sub frame be prepared to buy or make at least the front bushings for the sub frame. Both of my s14’s when i dropped the sub frame half the bushing stays on the car :S
ooh okay thanks i guess i have a weekend project then ummm one question though, how would i tighten the spindle with load? would there be enough clearance under my car if its on the ground or should i have it on a few 2x4’s to give it some height? also those parts i forgot to mention are all aftermarket, soo im unsure of what stock rubber bushings you are talking about :S is that on the subframe itself or were you referring to stock parts?
You may need a torch depending on how rusted you bolts and such are. If you have got that i can’t see what would be likely to stop you. And make sure you have another car or something cause if you break a bolt or whatever and don’t have a ride to pick another well…
Basic driveway mechanic stuff. Common sense and brute force.
ideally you would use 2x4’s like you said but usually 240s are lowered and you wouldnt be able to get at the upper ones. so use a pump jack to compress the suspension, tighten the bolts, let jack down, then put the wheels on and lower the car.
if you are going to these lengths… I would recomend taking a real good look at your subframe bushings…
most 1995’s etc, have old tired crappy subframe bushings… that end up tearing, and leading to a mystery ‘clunk’ noise…
^spirited driving only helps them fail faster
yeah I am referring to the rubber bushings that mount the sub frame to the car itself, your after market suspension should come with rodends/ heim joints and spacers at least mine did. I have the whole sub frame off my second car right now if you want to come have a look and see what your in for. I’m getting ready to install the whole god speed aftermarket setup including control arms and the vlsd off my se
Thanks a lot of the help, I’ll be starting this tomorrow… as for subframe bushings I’m sure mines are gone or severely worn but theres no clunck yet and I’m not ready to drop the subframe just yet to install those, i wont be drifting anytime soon due to the lack of funds soo ill just wait a bit… derass, using jacks to compress the springs is brilliant i happen to have 2 that i can put under both to do this and thanks kushala for the offer, I’d consider it but kitchener is just a little too far from maple
^^ Rofl, but i didn’t end up being able to do it… i don’t remember why right now but i ended up spending money on something and realized i might not be able to afford the alignment after so I’m waiting a bit… I’ll take pictures as i do it and post them up when I’m finished. Any one know an estimate of how much the alignment could run me?
sooo what would be the best course of action for me to take??
i guess i have a weekend project then 
ummm one question though, how would i tighten the spindle with load? would there be enough clearance under my car if its on the ground or should i have it on a few 2x4’s to give it some height? also those parts i forgot to mention are all aftermarket, soo im unsure of what stock rubber bushings you are talking about :S is that on the subframe itself or were you referring to stock parts?