My suspension is shot. it looks like it has never been touched in its 33 years of life.
I have limited funds to spend, and I want to do it right. Im not looking at anything other than stock. But it looks like everything needs to be replaced.

By question is am I better off doing the front end first or the rear end.

Its a 80 N/A if that helps

 

start with what is really wrong. shocks are usually a good upgrade. supposed to be done every 80,00km (50,000 miles?) you dont have to replace steering parts unless they have play in them so dont go chucking parts at it until you know exactly whats a must. prolly a tension rod bushing or 2 and the sway bar bushings are shot. dont go doing front and rear, try and go equally so it doesnt create a weird balance to it and maybe a failure of the other end.

 

FRONT. tie rod ends, ball joints, bushings, shocks. do it all not piece meal. rear shocks rear torsion bar bushings. get it aligned AFTER. You will think you are driving a different car.

 

there are tests to find out if your steering components are in good shape or not. if they are good there is no point replacing good parts. i still have original parts on my car that are still tight and dont require replacing. i have recircualting ball steering on mine and the cross link is still original! car has 300,000km on it too.

 

I don't know what kind of dream juice they drink in Canada but your parts are shot. I'll bet that car wanders the road like a drunk hog. How much you gonna pay to get em tested. tie rod ends and ball joints run about $80 US bushings check with MSA on poly price. if you can't afford the poly go with rubber and save your pennies for the poly set. mixing used and new parts is rubbish. do it once do it right. you aren't saving money if you have to redo the job in the near future.

 

Probably half the potancy of whatever moonshine they are brewing that makes you think replacing a good part is necessary.... All we are saying is if it isn't broken don't fix it. It's completely plausable that someone has replaced the ball joints in the 30 years the car has been on the road....