Control arms?

[jmanthony65]

I'm about to order a disc brake conversion and complete front end rebuilt kit. I was wondering if it would be of any benefit to swap to a later model upper and lower contol arms. I think from reading that they would be pretty much a bolt in right? I am keeping my 6 lug.

[DPowers]

Welcome-
Swap info here....
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ght=disc+brake

[protrash64]

I would do it only if it costs less. I rebuilt my 64 control arms and it rides great. Some will claim the 73+ ride better, but I have one of each and they both are good. I think ride depends on shocks/springs/wheel-tire combo more than anything.

Yes, they are a bolt in swap.

[Tx Firefighter]

It's just cheaper to rebuild the 73-87 arms. The 8 control arm bushings are soo much cheaper than the earlier screw in type are.

I haven't ever noticed any difference in ride like protrash either.

[jmanthony65]

Thanks for the info. If I just use the later style arms will it widen my front end any? I'm going to use the modular spindles from CPP if that matters... I've got my old control arms off already and have access to an 87 2wd frame so I can go either way..Just wondering which is best.

[protrash64]

If you go with either 63-72 or 73+ a-arms and the standard disc kits (1.25'' rotor) it will widen the track slightly. I think .75'' a side. I'm not familiar with the modular spindle set-up; I remember reading that one of those newer kits was narrower, but I'm not sure which one or how much.

[Tx Firefighter]

It's not the arms that widen the track, it's the spindles that do that. If you run the CPP modular spindles your track will stay the same regardless of what control arms you run from 63-87.

[protrash64]

Thanx Tx..... yeah,spindles, not the control arms, widen the track. I wasn't very clear.

[Slow Build]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I haven't ever noticed any difference in ride like protrash either.

Are there any differences in quietness or the ride?

[jmanthony65]

That was what i was wondering... How do i rebuilt the old style arms or should I even bother?

[Tx Firefighter]

Some folks speculate that the General's engineers went to rubber bushings for improved noise, vibration, and harshness. Myself, I think they went to rubber because they are much cheaper to produce.

I have had all of them, steel screw in, rubber, and urethane. In my opinion, I couldn't tell any difference between steel and rubber as far as ride. Now, I have an 84 Suburban suspension under my 63 with Energy Suspension urethane bushings. It was a mistake. I've lowered all of my trucks 4.5/6 so I am familiar with what to expect, but this one rides worse than any of them ever have. I won't do urethane again. I can't fathom how it could ride worse than steel bushings, but it does. I'm on my second set of front springs to try and get it smoother.

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by jmanthony65

That was what i was wondering... How do i rebuilt the old style arms or should I even bother?

I rebuilt mine because I thought they needed it. After taking the stuff apart it was fine, but I replaced it anyway. Now that I've seen them, I dont think I would do it unless they were binding or falling apart. They are steel!! Loaded with grease!! I dont know how they would even get bad; water I suppose, or heavy loads.

To rebuild them you need 3/4'' drive sockets to remove all the end caps and pull the shafts out. Pretty simple, but it can fight you.

[jmanthony65]

Thanks for all the help.. I'm just gonna stick what I got back in. Now to order that brake kit and get it all put back together! After I get back from 7 days at work...

[1999corvette]

I ended up putting in new cross shafts and metal bushings on my 65 arms, I did have the choice of using 1974 control arms I have, but the rubber bushings were dry rotted.

I think in the long run, the metal bushings will last a lot longer (if you grease them when you should)

Also, I wonder if the metal bushings will make it handle a little better, because the rubber bushings will flex, and then after a few years they will probably dry rot, and get even more sloppy handling.

I'll bet GM, along with most manufactures went to rubber bushing, because it was cheaper to produce, but also it got the vehicles back in the service dept for more repairs due to the rubber wearing out/dry rotting, where the metal bushing would still be going good (with proper lube jobs)

[1999corvette]

By the way, was not planning on rebuilding, but when I got the drum spindles out of the way, I wiggled the control arms while they were bolted in, and felt a big clunk (play) on the upper A arms while grabbing the end and moving it towards the back of the truck, then towards the front of the truck.

Partially my fault, never greased those bushings, but it was probably wore out before then as the truck seems like it has had a hard life from previous owners!