How to question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1964C10 · 06-25-2009, 08:51 AM

I am planning on going to the junk yard today to find the parts to do the front power disc brake setup (spindles, arms, tie rods etc). My question is, while I am there how do I get the upper/lower arms apart with the spring knocking me in the head? At home I have the jack to do that, I was wondering if there was a trick or do I need to bring a bottle jack, wooded blocks and so on? Thanks all!

1964C10 · 06-25-2009, 08:59 AM

Sorry about the subject line, guess that is something that you can not edit.

jason65 · 06-25-2009, 09:51 AM

I would use a jack on the crossmember. Lower a-arms on the ground. Remove lower ball joint nut. Wack the chet out of it till it breaks loose. Remove nut. Jack it up slowly till the springs fall out.

daverod · 06-25-2009, 09:51 AM

I taped my grinder on a stick stood back about 8' and cut the u bolts.

I know it's not the right way to do it but it's my way and it worked. Did'nt really seem like there was a lot of pressure on them anyways. I think they make a spring compressor that you rent from Auto Zone. I was to just lazy to get one. You could hook a chain around it and hook it to something if you think it going to come flying out of there.

1964C10 · 06-25-2009, 10:33 AM

Thanks guys! Now that you mean it I do have a spring compressor that I used for my mustang, I'll see if it fits. They work good just take forever to get them on and off, but better then losing a body part lol.

SIR · 06-25-2009, 01:14 PM

..find a 72 if possable,borrow there torch cut the frame off at the firewall and take the whole thing home and disassemble it at your leasure...my "02"..

70 Suburban · 06-25-2009, 01:49 PM

LOL dont take the nut off. Just loosen it up Whack it on the flat spot on the spindle. The nut will stop it form coming off. then put your jack under it use a 1/2 long handle ratchet and take the nut off.

jason65 · 06-25-2009, 02:52 PM

I know. Edit time ran out.

1964C10 · 06-25-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70 Suburban

LOL dont take the nut off. Just loosen it up Whack it on the flat spot on the spindle. The nut will stop it form coming off. then put your jack under it use a 1/2 long handle ratchet and take the nut off.

Good idea, maybe in conjunction with the spring compressor and a jack it will be "safe" lol

1964C10 · 06-25-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIR

..find a 72 if possable,borrow there torch cut the frame off at the firewall and take the whole thing home and disassemble it at your leasure...my "02"..

That would be the ideal situation but I have no way to transport it home. The bed is off my truck and I dont know anyone crazy enough to let me drop a greasy, rusty old front end in their truck/van hahahaha...I need new friends

joe231 · 06-25-2009, 04:31 PM

just tie some rope around the spring then tie it to the frame so it can't jump out.....take the lower ball joint nut off and swing your BFH, as you stay out of the way of the lower arm.....

I went and got a spindle from a junk yard, the guy pulled it with a pair of pliers, adjustable wrench, and a BFH

as stated previously, there doesn't seem to be much tension.

1964C10 · 06-25-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe231

as stated previously, there doesn't seem to be much tension.

Hope that will be true for me

...doesn't look like today though, I am still working.......at least my plans for my truck are going better then my plans to be independently wealthy

joe231 · 06-25-2009, 06:00 PM

you get the second deal figured out, please let me know

1964C10 · 06-25-2009, 06:08 PM

I am sure that this truck is not a good "financial" investment

daverod · 06-25-2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIR

..find a 72 if possable,borrow there torch cut the frame off at the firewall and take the whole thing home and disassemble it at your leasure...my "02"..

daverod · 06-25-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daverod

I did'nt read you have no way of tranporting it.

You mean you hav'nt cut your parts truck in half and made a trailer out of it yet?

1964C10 · 06-25-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daverod

I did'nt read you have no way of tranporting it.

You mean you hav'nt cut your parts truck in half and made a trailer out of it yet?

Hahahaha...no parts truck here....I dont really live in a neighborhood where I have room for things like that. I have also been reading up on all the parts I will need and I am still a little confused, so more research needed. I am going to be running discs with a power booster, but I would like to have the 73-87 parts (I think the years are correct) so that replacement parts are more abundent.

daverod · 06-25-2009, 06:42 PM

71 and 72 will work also. If your hard up.

1964C10 · 06-25-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daverod

71 and 72 will work also. If your hard up.

It's not an urgency so if I have to find some parts now and get some later then that is fine as well, but thanks for the heads up, I am adding it to my list of potential parts.

**Captainfab** · 06-25-2009, 11:53 PM

Most guys go for the '73-'87's partly because they are more abundant in the salvage/junk yards. I seem to remember that the lower balljoint for the '71-'72's are more expensive than the '73-'87's also.

daverod · 06-26-2009, 12:16 AM

The lowers are the same the uppers are a $14 difference.

1964C10 · 06-26-2009, 12:22 AM

Thanks guys, one step closer, well probably two since I know what I am hunting for.

**Chevy Fleetside** · 06-26-2009, 09:21 AM

I would let you drop it in my truck. But then again the comute might be rough,..

daverod · 06-26-2009, 09:24 AM

Nice offer. What about tieing it on top of the old ladies car. I saw a guy at the lumber store with a 6x16 beam on his wagon.

1964C10 · 06-26-2009, 09:52 AM

thanks for the offer fleetside! that is most gracious! what I might end up doing is renting a truck from Lowe's I think they are like $20/hour.

06-25-2009, 08:51 AM	#1
1964C10 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 578	How to question I am planning on going to the junk yard today to find the parts to do the front power disc brake setup (spindles, arms, tie rods etc). My question is, while I am there how do I get the upper/lower arms apart with the spring knocking me in the head? At home I have the jack to do that, I was wondering if there was a trick or do I need to bring a bottle jack, wooded blocks and so on? Thanks all! __________________ 1964 Fleetside LWB 1995 Yellow Mustang convertible 1996 Camaro Z28 My build thread Looking for help on completing the Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread If you didn't build it, you don't really own it

06-25-2009, 08:59 AM	#2
1964C10 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 578	Re: How to questionp Sorry about the subject line, guess that is something that you can not edit. __________________ 1964 Fleetside LWB 1995 Yellow Mustang convertible 1996 Camaro Z28 My build thread Looking for help on completing the Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread If you didn't build it, you don't really own it

06-25-2009, 09:51 AM	#3
jason65 Registerd User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,118	Re: How to questionp I would use a jack on the crossmember. Lower a-arms on the ground. Remove lower ball joint nut. Wack the chet out of it till it breaks loose. Remove nut. Jack it up slowly till the springs fall out. Last edited by jason65; 06-25-2009 at 09:55 AM.

06-25-2009, 09:51 AM	#4
daverod SSN 706 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pocatello Idaho Posts: 3,821	Re: How to questionp I taped my grinder on a stick stood back about 8' and cut the u bolts.I know it's not the right way to do it but it's my way and it worked. Did'nt really seem like there was a lot of pressure on them anyways. I think they make a spring compressor that you rent from Auto Zone. I was to just lazy to get one. You could hook a chain around it and hook it to something if you think it going to come flying out of there. Last edited by daverod; 06-25-2009 at 09:53 AM.

06-25-2009, 10:33 AM	#5
1964C10 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 578	Re: How to questionp Thanks guys! Now that you mean it I do have a spring compressor that I used for my mustang, I'll see if it fits. They work good just take forever to get them on and off, but better then losing a body part lol. __________________ 1964 Fleetside LWB 1995 Yellow Mustang convertible 1996 Camaro Z28 My build thread Looking for help on completing the Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread If you didn't build it, you don't really own it

06-25-2009, 01:14 PM	#6
SIR SIR Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: grants pass oregon,usa Posts: 658	Re: How to questionp ..find a 72 if possable,borrow there torch cut the frame off at the firewall and take the whole thing home and disassemble it at your leasure...my "02".. __________________ 66long low fleet http://community.webshots.com/user/LVNR66

06-25-2009, 01:49 PM	#7
70 Suburban Rods Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,398	Re: How to questionp LOL dont take the nut off. Just loosen it up Whack it on the flat spot on the spindle. The nut will stop it form coming off. then put your jack under it use a 1/2 long handle ratchet and take the nut off. __________________ Just keepin it simple. 1965 C-10 Ext cab build. 350??(Does it count at 2 truck if I had to cut one up?) 1966 C-10 lwb 283 auto 1970 Suburban in pieces 1971 Blazer 4wd....restore someday. all factory CST 1972 Blazer 4wd parts truck still a roller 1972 GMC Sierra Grandee 1998 Chevy ext driver. 2005 F*D the wife drive...(cant fix women) Last edited by 70 Suburban; 06-25-2009 at 01:49 PM.*

06-25-2009, 02:52 PM	#8
jason65 Registerd User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,118	Re: How to questionp I know. Edit time ran out.

06-25-2009, 04:31 PM	#11
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: How to questionp just tie some rope around the spring then tie it to the frame so it can't jump out.....take the lower ball joint nut off and swing your BFH, as you stay out of the way of the lower arm..... I went and got a spindle from a junk yard, the guy pulled it with a pair of pliers, adjustable wrench, and a BFH as stated previously, there doesn't seem to be much tension. __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

06-25-2009, 06:00 PM	#13
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: How to questionp you get the second deal figured out, please let me know __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

06-25-2009, 06:08 PM	#14
1964C10 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 578	Re: How to questionp I am sure that this truck is not a good "financial" investment __________________ 1964 Fleetside LWB 1995 Yellow Mustang convertible 1996 Camaro Z28 My build thread Looking for help on completing the Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread If you didn't build it, you don't really own it

06-25-2009, 06:42 PM	#18
daverod SSN 706 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pocatello Idaho Posts: 3,821	Re: How to questionp 71 and 72 will work also. If your hard up.

06-25-2009, 11:53 PM	#20
Captainfab 60-66 Nut Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Posts: 23,252	Re: How to questionp Most guys go for the '73-'87's partly because they are more abundant in the salvage/junk yards. I seem to remember that the lower balljoint for the '71-'72's are more expensive than the '73-'87's also. __________________ Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE

06-26-2009, 12:16 AM	#21
daverod SSN 706 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pocatello Idaho Posts: 3,821	Re: How to questionp The lowers are the same the uppers are a $14 difference.

06-26-2009, 12:22 AM	#22
1964C10 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 578	Re: How to questionp Thanks guys, one step closer, well probably two since I know what I am hunting for. __________________ 1964 Fleetside LWB 1995 Yellow Mustang convertible 1996 Camaro Z28 My build thread Looking for help on completing the Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread If you didn't build it, you don't really own it



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

06-26-2009, 09:21 AM	#23
Chevy Fleetside Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,782	Re: How to questionp I would let you drop it in my truck. But then again the comute might be rough,.. __________________ "A man and his truck, what a beautiful thing" 65 Short Fleetside BBC 65 Long Fleetside 283 3 on the tree for now. my build thread http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=259536

06-26-2009, 09:24 AM	#24
daverod SSN 706 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pocatello Idaho Posts: 3,821	Re: How to questionp Nice offer. What about tieing it on top of the old ladies car. I saw a guy at the lumber store with a 6x16 beam on his wagon. Last edited by daverod; 06-26-2009 at 09:29 AM.

06-26-2009, 09:52 AM	#25
1964C10 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 578	Re: How to questionp thanks for the offer fleetside! that is most gracious! what I might end up doing is renting a truck from Lowe's I think they are like $20/hour. __________________ 1964 Fleetside LWB 1995 Yellow Mustang convertible 1996 Camaro Z28 My build thread Looking for help on completing the Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread If you didn't build it, you don't really own it

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.