2003 Neon SXT 2.0L auto
193,000 miles

Replacing the engine/trans

What front suspension parts should I replace while I'm at it?
(struts recently replaced)

Thanks!

 

You should check the lower ball joints, outer tie-rod ends, lower control arm bushings, swaybar bushings and the swaybar end link bushings. That's pretty much the entire front end unless I'm forgetting something. I saw your other thread about the engine and trans mounts - good move considering what you are doing.

 

inner tie rods too, go easy removing the boots you can reuse them & use large zip ties once you reinstall, just wash with hot water an dawn dish soap a few times, old inner tie rods they come off easy with vise grips, new ones from Oriellys around $19 a side, have a bolt head and go on with a large cresent wrench, dab 1 thread of blue locktite. Easy job too, my rack has 240K miles+, this will really tighten up the feel too since your that far into the front r&r

 

Thanks for the suggestions!

Engine project will be under way tomorrow. Dropping from XMbr assy.
Replacing knocking original 2.0L engine w/MoPar long block. Having Trans rebuilt while it's out ($500total w/warranty). Then...

- Lower Ctrl Arm assemblies (w/ball joints, bushings)
- Inner & Outer Tie Rods
- Sway Bar Mount Bushings & Link end assemblies
- New MoPar Engine & Trans mounts/isolators (4 total)
- New hoses, belts (engine includes timing belt, water-pump, etc.)
- Plugs, wires
- Thermostat

Did I miss anything else?

Since I work for Chrysler, I pulled up the factory assy sheets for the '03 Neon as a reference (funny, back when these were new, the entire front xmbr assy took about a minute to go in ... looks easy watching it go together at the plant).

 

As for the bushings I'd go with the black modern perf. units over stock rubber items.

 

Yeah, I put in new MOPAR sway bar bushings at 100k and they're clunking again at 170k..

 

pretty good milage out of mopar rubber I'd say

 

What a PITA those are too...

Broke every single bolt.

 

how'd they break? rusted up or over torqued? If you can soak every bolt an nut the night before with pb blaster, man that stuff makes life easy

 

Probably rusted. He lives back East, IIRC.