Control Arm Shaft Installation - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Riveted1 · 06-30-2008, 06:31 PM

So I looked at the Ebfabman post in the FAQ section on installation of these things, but I'm still a little unclear on some stuff. First, when I have one side tight and the shaft is screwed into the bushing, the other side is still showing lots of threads. So does it have to be completely screwed in? Or do I just get it evened up and call it good? (I know I still have to torque em down after I get weight on the suspension.) I took pics of my old ones, but I guess I didn't get detailed enough, and I can't remember if they screwed ALL the way in or not. Here is what one side looks like with the other side screwed all the way in: (Sorry I must've been shaking LOL)

Riveted1 · 06-30-2008, 08:57 PM

Bueler... Bueler....

Longhorn Man · 06-30-2008, 09:12 PM

well, I HOPE you screw one side on 1 turn, then the other side one turn, then the other sde, then the other side...
That's how I did mine, but I haven't driven it yet.

Riveted1 · 06-30-2008, 09:27 PM

Ok, but do you still see threads on the CA shaft?? Or did they tighten all the way?

I like your avatar btw... first time I've seen that

Longhorn Man · 06-30-2008, 09:50 PM

thanks for the avatar comment!
I was able to get them on all the way... but it wasn't easy. I left my big sockets at work... had the impact, but no socket.

Ended up doing it with a pipe wrench, and my foot... then a 5 foot cheater pipe after anchoring the arm with the hitch on the back of the longhorn.
Forgot to get a finished pic though.

Riveted1 · 07-01-2008, 12:24 AM

Sweet... thx for letting me know. I got the UCA mounted on the truck, and I guess from having a much better "anchor" I got em to snug on up. I'm thinking it'll do the same on the LCA. Having the control arms out and freshly painted doesn't allow me (I'm not the biggest guy on the planet) to get the leverage I need to get em tight.

On another note, I'm starting to think I rely on this board a little too much. At the slightest notion of trouble I run in here and type a "help me!" post. Part of that comes from never having done something like this before, and the other part comes from respecting the collective experience of this forum.

dwcsr · 07-01-2008, 12:56 AM

when installing the bushings you center the shaft in the arm then screw in the end nuts.

You want a final dimension in the picture below. Its measured from the end with the location hole. I have it as a square in the picture,install the arm with the U-bolts snugged up then torque the end nuts. After the measurement is 3/4". With the end nuts torqued you shold be able to rotate the shaft. If you can't then the arm may be bent or something is out of line. if all is well torque the U Bolts

06-30-2008, 06:31 PM	#1
Riveted1 Tasty Cakes! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 2,112	Control Arm Shaft Installation So I looked at the Ebfabman post in the FAQ section on installation of these things, but I'm still a little unclear on some stuff. First, when I have one side tight and the shaft is screwed into the bushing, the other side is still showing lots of threads. So does it have to be completely screwed in? Or do I just get it evened up and call it good? (I know I still have to torque em down after I get weight on the suspension.) I took pics of my old ones, but I guess I didn't get detailed enough, and I can't remember if they screwed ALL the way in or not. Here is what one side looks like with the other side screwed all the way in: (Sorry I must've been shaking LOL) Attached Images __________________ I'm a little and a lot Ground beef: A cow with no legs. ---------------- '66 Chevy SWB "Penny" '67 Chevy Big Window SWB- aka "Pearl" '72 Burb- "Betty" "It's not a hearse dammit" '99 Chevy Ext. cab Silverado

06-30-2008, 08:57 PM	#2
Riveted1 Tasty Cakes! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 2,112	Re: Control Arm Shaft Installation Bueler... Bueler.... __________________ I'm a little and a lot Ground beef: A cow with no legs. ---------------- '66 Chevy SWB "Penny" '67 Chevy Big Window SWB- aka "Pearl" '72 Burb- "Betty" "It's not a hearse dammit" '99 Chevy Ext. cab Silverado

06-30-2008, 09:12 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Control Arm Shaft Installation well, I HOPE you screw one side on 1 turn, then the other side one turn, then the other sde, then the other side... That's how I did mine, but I haven't driven it yet.

06-30-2008, 09:27 PM	#4
Riveted1 Tasty Cakes! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 2,112	Re: Control Arm Shaft Installation Ok, but do you still see threads on the CA shaft?? Or did they tighten all the way? I like your avatar btw... first time I've seen that __________________ I'm a little and a lot Ground beef: A cow with no legs. ---------------- '66 Chevy SWB "Penny" '67 Chevy Big Window SWB- aka "Pearl" '72 Burb- "Betty" "It's not a hearse dammit" '99 Chevy Ext. cab Silverado Last edited by Riveted1; 06-30-2008 at 09:27 PM.

06-30-2008, 09:50 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Control Arm Shaft Installation thanks for the avatar comment! I was able to get them on all the way... but it wasn't easy. I left my big sockets at work... had the impact, but no socket. Ended up doing it with a pipe wrench, and my foot... then a 5 foot cheater pipe after anchoring the arm with the hitch on the back of the longhorn. Forgot to get a finished pic though. Attached Images Last edited by Longhorn Man; 06-30-2008 at 09:51 PM.

07-01-2008, 12:24 AM	#6
Riveted1 Tasty Cakes! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 2,112	Re: Control Arm Shaft Installation Sweet... thx for letting me know. I got the UCA mounted on the truck, and I guess from having a much better "anchor" I got em to snug on up. I'm thinking it'll do the same on the LCA. Having the control arms out and freshly painted doesn't allow me (I'm not the biggest guy on the planet) to get the leverage I need to get em tight. On another note, I'm starting to think I rely on this board a little too much. At the slightest notion of trouble I run in here and type a "help me!" post. Part of that comes from never having done something like this before, and the other part comes from respecting the collective experience of this forum. __________________ I'm a little and a lot Ground beef: A cow with no legs. ---------------- '66 Chevy SWB "Penny" '67 Chevy Big Window SWB- aka "Pearl" '72 Burb- "Betty" "It's not a hearse dammit" '99 Chevy Ext. cab Silverado

07-01-2008, 12:56 AM	#7
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,134	Re: Control Arm Shaft Installation when installing the bushings you center the shaft in the arm then screw in the end nuts. You want a final dimension in the picture below. Its measured from the end with the location hole. I have it as a square in the picture,install the arm with the U-bolts snugged up then torque the end nuts. After the measurement is 3/4". With the end nuts torqued you shold be able to rotate the shaft. If you can't then the arm may be bent or something is out of line. if all is well torque the U Bolts Attached Images



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