Should have pics of the install here after the weekend, but I wanted to share thoughts on the upgraded parts I'm about to bless the Monte with.

First off, call me crazy (I've been called worse) I did not think about looking for brand new upper control arms online for the Gen 1 to Gen 2 upgrade. I was under the impression I would have to scour the yards locally for a used set, get new ball joints, bushings, clean them, etc. To my surprise, Rock Auto had them, and after destroying the driver side stock arm using a ball joint press, these seemed to be a blessing in disguise.




So for about $100 I got two new arms, complete with new bushings and balljoints. If I would have known how much of a pain the original 25 year old encrusted upper balls were going to give me, I would have just ripped both arms completely off and done this from the get-go.

Also doing the Gen 2 3.5 rotors, dual piston calipers, switching to manual hubs (finally) at this time. I will have shots of that this weekend too, but after searching high and low for an alternative brake line (braided) that didn't cost as much as all the other parts combined, I came up with this:



(also shown is the Gen 2 idler arm)

Got these for $40 online...probably will only use 2- these are actually for a Mazda car, uses the same M1 10mm x 1mm fitting and banjo fittings. I'll see how these work with the new calipers...

And to utilize the braided lines and keep them held properly I picked up some padded line clamps to hold them in place:



Like I said, I'll hopefully wrap up tomorrow and I will be able to show more when it's back moving on its own. The winter weather has held it up and it's been cabin fever-ish around here.

Doesn't look like your brake lines are DOT. In this litigious society, you really shouldn't be using these on a street driven vehicle. There has been posts on here a few years back with the correct DOT stainless lines to use.

I made sure to look for DOT approved, details claimed they were....curious as to why/what the dead giveaway is. Thanks for the heads up!

Nice setup.

I also went the new UCA route. I found the same or very similar ones on ebay for like $65 shipped. Just a heads up to anyone else.

Are your inner and outer tie rods in good shape? Since your doing all this work might be worth changing them out if they aren't.

Wow, $40 for braided lines? A deal. I paid more for rubber ones on RockAuto. Nice find. I'll be watching to see how it goes. (good time to change out the rear rubber hose too, plus you said you might have extra lines anyways)

May I inquire more about the idler arm? RockAuto? Whats the benefit from a Gen2 one? I bought an aftermarket Gen1 idler arm and it was absolute garbage, so this would be a nice upgrade. Thanks.

Once you get the brake lines on and see that they work, could you give us a part numbe and where you got themr? I'm getting ready to do the same upgrade on my Monty and would love to put braided lines on as well.

IIRC, upgrading to the Gen 2 Idler Arm means you'll need to do the Gen 2 Pittman Arm as well. The geometry won't match otherwise and things may break.

(also shown is the Gen 2 idler arm)

Got these for $40 online...probably will only use 2- these are actually for a Mazda car, uses the same M1 10mm x 1mm fitting and banjo fittings. I'll see how these work with the new calipers...




[color:"brown"] What Mazda Yr/Make/Model did you use to search for brake lines? From Rock Auto also? [/color]

So I got the new upper arms, lower ball joints, bearings, seals, tie rods, idler arm, brake lines, rotors, calipers, pads, and kyb shocks installed. Overall it wasn't too bad; I have yet to really drive it much- waiting until I get it aligned before that. From what I can tell the first impressions are that the front end is much tighter now. Definitely quieter too, before I had the creaks and squeaks from a 25 year old IFS. I will also go back and re-grease the joints and ends here after a few miles as well. Here are a few images from the weekend's wrenching

Couple random exteriors, nothing fancy, hopefully I'll have time to make some sliders and a set of bumpers