check yourself...

[Ratpin]

...before you wreck your truck!

I bought a '64 gmc burb a couple weeks ago. It's going to be a low budget driver for next spring. My first order of biz was dropping it a bit so last weekend I cut 1.5 coils out of the front and removed 4 leaves out of the rear. It sat nice but I wanted a little more rake so I pulled it apart again today to cut another 1/4 coil out and remove the bump stops. I'm glad I did because when I went to pull the lca I noticed one of the u bolts was missing a nut and the other u bolt both nuts were finger loose! I could easily wiggle the whole lca fore and aft. This would probably explain the clunk I had been hearing while rolling and steering at low speeds. The u bolt that was missing a nut seems to have been pretty distorted over time. See picture.

Does anyone have a spare lower control arm u bolt they want to donate to my suburban? I'll gladly pay postage.

Pictures to come

[Ratpin]

[dragn91]

Kinda off topic but I lowered my buddy's vw golf today and as soon as we jacked it up I grabbed the passenger side front tire and could move it no less than 6 inches he was shocked drove it 25 miles home from work to my house said it didn't have a problem when we took the wheel off the crush nut was laying in the center cap only thing holding the wheel on the car was the brake caliper! Glad luck was on both your guys sides if I come across an extra control arm bolt I'll let you know. Nice burb by the way I'm very jelous

[Captainfab]

New control arm U-bolts aren't expensive. IIRC they are $7-9.00 a pair. While you have them out I would suggest upgrading them to the larger diameter '73-'87 U-bolts. You will have to drill out the holes in the crossmember. The original U-bolts can break.

[Ratpin]

Just ordered the upgraded ones. Thanks for the tip!

[duallyjams]

Good looking burb

[Ratpin]

Originally Posted by duallyjams

Good looking burb

Thanks! She's got a bit of rust but is a driver and the price was right.

[donthekawguy]

When I took my truck apart last spring one of the bolts was broken and the other was really worn from moving around. That's not a good feeling but it is upgraded now and that is a good feeling.

[Ratpin]

I received my Dorman u-bolts today. Got the passenger side ones swapped out. Man it's hard to fit the nut on that front inner bolt. Every time it comes around it digs into the cross member a little.

Interestingly enough the u-bolts I removed from my suburban were already the upgraded later model 9/16" bolts. All but one of the nuts was almost finger loose with one nut missing entirely. I'm guessing whoever upgraded them years ago snugged them up and then never checked them again. That's why I like that the Dormans come with torque bolts as the ones I removed did not have torque bolts, just lock washers.

[CRGRS 66]

I installed the 73-87 size ubolts on mine, it was definitely a b**** tightening some of those nuts

[Mackie]

Originally Posted by Ratpin

That's why I like that the Dormans come with torque bolts as the ones I removed did not have torque bolts, just lock washers.

Not familiar with torque bolts. Can you explain?

[Ratpin]

Originally Posted by Mackie

Not familiar with torque bolts. Can you explain?

Sorry I meant nuts, torque nuts or some call them Prevailing torque nuts

[Mackie]

Originally Posted by Ratpin

Sorry I meant nuts, torque nuts or some call them Prevailing torque nuts

OK, thanks. I was thinking you might have meant nuts but prevailing torque
is an unfamiliar term too. I've always heard "locknut" or the brand name nyloc.

Nice Burb you scored there. Good luck with her!