removing lower a-arms

[andyr354]

I might get around to removing the lower a-arms and everything from my 80 donor truck this weekend.
When removing the lower a-arms should I take the bushings appart to get them off or take the whole assembly loose with those u-bolts that hold the pipe to the frame?

How much realignment is the truck goin to need when I get it back together?

[1971Stepside]

If you aren't planning to replace the bushings I would drop it with the u-bolts. There are alignment tabs on the "pipe", but you will need to have the front end aligned when you have it back together.

[COBALT]

Yeah, it's much easier to contend with the U-bolts then it is taking the A-arm off by removing the bushings. Don't try that with the spring still in place!

I took my front-end apart by putting a floor jack up tight under the A-arm center bar, and then unbolted the U-bolts. I got behind my workbench (it has solid metal sides), and lowered the jack. The springs fell off, and then I just strolled over, took the castle nut off the lower ball joint stud, and used a ball joint press to pop the spindle loose. Piece-o-cake.

[Blue68]

Actually, you don't have any other option than to take the entire shaft. The bushings are rubber on the '80 model trucks, where on a '70 you are looking at steel bushings. Minor difference.

Why not just put new ball joints in your 70 and drop the '80 spindles on it? You will also have to change out the tie rods as well and maybe the drag link (can't remember if that was for PS or not). I tried this and couldn't get it aligned right with mid 80 spindles. Said screw it and dropped a '75 crossmember under it so that all the parts were for a specific model.