![]() |
|
![]() |
#1 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
Full Disclosure: Dummy over here bought twice the amount of bushings we needed, cause well I didn't know two come in a box!
Note The: Made in India, Made in China - - - Nice! gotta be good, ha ha so much for the ACDelco genuine parts |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
also decided to buy new 2" drop front coil springs since we've been driving around on cut ones, a few years back I tried McGuphies 2" dropped coil springs and they dropped my front end 4" inches, not acceptable, so then I cut one loop off of my stock ones, which gave me a proper 2" drop and a stiff ride, so it's time to do it right, this time using Western Chassis parts, they are much better
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
so we start with the Passenger Side as it has way too much negative Camber (big word alert) for some reason - and we are about to find out why
we make a few mental notes of how the upper control arm is aligned forward and aft and how much the bushings stick out if any |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
we also mentalize how many alignment spacers there was in the front and the back, and lay they out nicely for roll call
if we put them back where we found them we will still need to get an alignment done but we will at least have a decent starting point |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty - Lower Control Arm
I like to loosen the lower control arm first from the bottom of the frame using a jack to compress the spring, then you lower it gently and the spring comes right out
here I am resting the heavy lower control arm as it is still attached to the spindle, they get stuck after 40 plus years of service and need a little gentle persuasion |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
here's the anatomy of the Driver Side lower control arm
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
the upper control arm was next
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
naturally this one is bound to fight you as well... like the lower one did on the other side, ha ha
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
and the anatomy of the upper control arm
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
SUPER IMPORTANT: Lessons Learned
Unlike the lower control arms the bushings in the upper control arms do NOT get pressed all the way in, this my friends may drive you a bit crazy if you don't pay attention to this fact. Don't ask how I know, ha ha I suggest you take some measurements of your old setup before pressing these out so you have an idea of the width you are shooting for later also I learned why they sell new upper control arms, as they tend to warp and shift and bend and twist |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
Alright, now what?
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Midway, NC
Posts: 3,275
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
I’m anxious to see how this plays out. I’ve watched a few videos and seen guys replace the bushings before but never did it myself.
__________________
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=581873 The low buck build threads. Check'em out! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=666022 My build thread Crossmembers CC |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
Posts: 4,951
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
The most exciting thing about replacing the lower A-Am bushings is the coil springs...
I usually use brandy new U-bolts on the lower arms. Make sure the aligment studs on the upper mount are in good shape and replace em if there's any question. Gm used some kind of green threadlocker on the crossmember to frame bolts... at least they did on my 85 and the 86 I cabbaged the front crossmember from.
__________________
1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials...
And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty - Upper Control Arm
so first let me show you how to press out the bushing out of the upper control arm the hard way ie using the Harbor Freight 12 ton press
and just so you know I had to do this with a buddy system because a press is not the proper tool for this especially if you don't have any dies or metal props to wedge under to make the A arm level etc... this will get one bushing out on one side... Last edited by Gregski; 06-12-2018 at 09:20 AM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty - Upper Control Arm
alright now to get the other side out I had to improvise and use a pipe that I happened to have to press the other bushing out
hard work and dangerous... Last edited by Gregski; 06-12-2018 at 09:19 AM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty - Ball Joint / U-Join Press Set
and here is a tool I rented from AutoZone that made the process so much easier to both press in and remove the bushings from the upper control arms
EverTough part # 67045 Ball Joint / U-Join Press Set I know it says Ball Joint on it but it does the bushings too Last edited by Gregski; 06-12-2018 at 09:19 AM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty - Upper Control Arm
in order to get the original rivitted ball joint off we had to use the 4" grinder aka the Death Wheel
at first I tried the trick of just grinding the middle just enough to cut the width f the stem, but that wasn't enough |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#18 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty - Upper Control Arm
and so the grinding continued until finally we were able to use a punch and a 3 pound sledge to get the upper ball joint off
not pretty but it got the job done, the new replacement ball joints are bolt in Fun Level = 2 Last edited by Gregski; 06-12-2018 at 03:23 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#19 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty - Lower Control Arm
the lower control arm we pounded out the bushings after kinking them in a bit like so, at least on one side, maybe we used the press for the other side
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#20 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty - Lower Control Arm
this is the lower control arm with the new ball joint pressed in, the ball joints are not rivitted to the lower control arms they just snap out and in using the shop press and some pipe or square tubing in our case as a jig
DISCLAIMER: note how the game changes when you go from a restore project truck to your daily driver, I did not paint these old control arms Roadkill style and just replaced the warn out parts and bolted them back up, shame on me |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#21 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
a little stare and compare of my old stock coil spring which I cut one loop off of to lower the truck 2" and the new Western Chassis 2" propper drop coil springs, I really like these springs they fit good and the ride is great, you buy them through Performance Online and they are cheaper than directly from Western Chassis for some strange reason
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#22 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
You know you got a Chevy when you buy your parts by the bucket, ha ha
these are new upper control arm shaft (assemblies) I just needed the metal shafts but NAPA only sold them as sets or kits which included the bushings, oh great, now I have three sets of bushings per side, lol my passenger side shaft was mangled so I decided to replace both of them for evenability |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#23 | |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
Posts: 4,951
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
Quote:
They're all brand new quality parts so you're not cheating anyone.
__________________
1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials...
And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#24 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#25 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,830
|
Re: Restoring Rusty
here's a cautionary note and a heads up, remember those alignment spacers we talked about earlier for the upper control arm, well be careful when you are putting them back in as they like to rotate upside down and slip out from underneath, slippery little suckers
below I caught them in the act |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
|
|