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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 18
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(pics) '66 lower control arm u-bolt broke today, luckily in my driveway
Just pulled my truck out of the garage and parked it to the side when I came to a stop I heard/felt a loud pop. Jumped out to discover this...
![]() Funny thing is... it's scheduled to go into the shop in a couple months for a complete disc brake and 5-lug conversion and 2" lowering. Not sure if there were signs that this u-bolt was about to fail or not. Just sure happy it happened at walking speeds instead of highway speeds! I found replacements at Classic Industries:https://www.classicindustries.com/pr...lcuk63725.html I'm surprised they offer them in 7/16" or 1/2", not sure why someone would choose the smaller diameter, any ideas? Any advice before I go outside and start getting my hands dirty on this repair? ![]() |
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#2 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Hershey Pennsylvania
Posts: 342
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Re: (pics) '66 lower control arm u-bolt broke today, luckily in my driveway
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Mena,Arkansas
Posts: 485
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Re: (pics) '66 lower control arm u-bolt broke today, luckily in my driveway
Had the same thing happen to my '68 3/4 ton. I was loaded down with camping gear and pulling my 13' camper and hit a pothole. Almost hit a pole when the control arm moved back. I went with the larger U-bolts. Glad you were just moving the truck at low speed! Beautiful truck by the way.
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68' with no bells or whistles unless I add'em. |
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#4 |
Senior Member
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Location: Hickory Flat, GA
Posts: 4,507
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Re: (pics) '66 lower control arm u-bolt broke today, luckily in my driveway
I didn't have one break, but I did replace and upgrade mine to the 9/16" bolts used on the squarebody trucks. Yeah you have to drill the holes bigger, but if GM went bigger with the U bolts, I don't mind drilling some holes to do the same.
Dorman 13503 is what I used to replace the originals on my 63
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Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Anderson SC
Posts: 3,908
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Re: (pics) '66 lower control arm u-bolt broke today, luckily in my driveway
Don't use a drill, the center to center length isn't the same. The holes need to be enlarged outward in width and forward away from the upper crossmember wall for more clearance for the nuts. I used a carbide burr in an air grinder to open mine up wider and more forward.
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#6 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 386
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Re: (pics) '66 lower control arm u-bolt broke today, luckily in my driveway
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Woodbine MD
Posts: 201
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Re: (pics) '66 lower control arm u-bolt broke today, luckily in my driveway
Do the holes need to be moved outwards for both the 1/2 and 9/16 bolts or just the 9/16?
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 18
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Re: (pics) '66 lower control arm u-bolt broke today, luckily in my driveway
Great input everyone, thank you.
I'm trying to enlarge the pair of holes for one ubolt before I disconnect the other ubolt to keep the coil spring in place, but this doesn't give me enough clearance to get my carbide burr in there. Any suggestions? I have a lift I can use to get the truck overhead, but this presents the problem of needing a 5' tall jack to support the assembly whilst working on it. Too heavy to just have a buddy hold it whilst I grind out the holes. |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 18
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Re: (pics) '66 lower control arm u-bolt broke today, luckily in my driveway
I'm also concerned with the possible need for a washer if we're making the hole oblong. It's pretty tight where the nut must fit, not sure if there's even room for a washer.
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