A-arm shaft bushings available?

[shiner2001]

I'm doing a front end rebuild kit on my 72, which is basically all the bushings and tie rod components, but all I have seen available for the A-arm shafts is to replace the shaft itself. Does anyone make a bushing kit for these that just replaces the bushings and retains the stock shaft, or does it all have to go? It looks like everyone carries the replacement shafts, but I haven't seen just the bushings. Figured I'd save a couple bucks if I didn't have to replace the entire shaft just to refresh the rubber. Thanks in advance guys.

[Clyde65]

I was told by several knowledgeable folks to replace the a-arm shaft and all, because the original shaft can be brittle or more brittle than what is safe, a new shaft will be made with current specs and hardness which is far superior than 40+ years ago.

Also I couldnt find any bushings either, looked at many vendors on line and locally.

[shiner2001]

I can definitely see the benefits of replacing the whole shafts. Looks like that might be the route I end up having to go. I haven't even pulled the front end apart yet, so the old ones may be just fine, it was just going to be the best time to replace anything that might need it. Probably go ahead and order a set from ECE I suppose.

[Shaky]

Do your A-arm shafts even have any rubber in them? My '67 C20, my brother's '68 C10, and my other brother's '71 C10 are all steel-on-steel.

Do you have a later model front suspension?

[shiner2001]

Originally Posted by Shaky

Do your A-arm shafts even have any rubber in them? My '67 C20, my brother's '68 C10, and my other brother's '71 C10 are all steel-on-steel.

Do you have a later model front suspension?

I can't imagine not having some kind of bushing in there, but like I said, I haven't pulled mine apart yet, so I can't say 100%.

Here are the ones that Classic carries:

http://www.classicindustries.com/tru...ts/13167a.html

http://www.classicindustries.com/tru...ts/13168a.html

Those are considerably cheaper than what I've seen elsewhere. They are about half of what ECE charges and less than CPP as well.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Probably not great quality either. You get what you pay for. I don't mess around with cheap parts on front ends. You can go to your nearest NAPA and buy good Moog parts. They probably even have them on the shelf. WES

[shiner2001]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

Probably not great quality either. You get what you pay for.

So true.

[red69ss]

they do not have rubber on them, I just took mine apart yesterday they are metal on metal. I "believe" they started using rubber bushings in 73 on trucks. deffinently replacing mine with moog. good luck

[a.c.1]

just saw some in a magazine. p-s-t.com never dealt with them

[shiner2001]

Originally Posted by red69ss

they do not have rubber on them, I just took mine apart yesterday they are metal on metal. I "believe" they started using rubber bushings in 73 on trucks. deffinently replacing mine with moog. good luck

The shafts in the link below are listed as 67-72. I wonder if these are "upgrades" from stock, or maybe it just looks like a rubber bushing on there but it's not. I haven't seen any in person, but this picture is why I was assuming they had rubber on them.

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...ruck/FA538.htm

Just trying to clarify...

[shiner2001]

While shopping around to see if the local stores carried them, I found them at O'Reillys. They carry the Master Pro Chassis one:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0318&ppt=C0106

And the Moog one:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0318&ppt=C0106

Both are lifetime warranties, but they are the same part number! Nowhere near the same price though, the Moogs are double the price. I wonder what the deal is with that...

[shiner2001]

Originally Posted by shiner2001

While shopping around to see if the local stores carried them, I found them at O'Reillys. They carry the Master Pro Chassis one:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0318&ppt=C0106

And the Moog one:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0318&ppt=C0106

Both are lifetime warranties, but they are the same part number! Nowhere near the same price though, the Moogs are double the price. I wonder what the deal is with that...

Called O'reilly and they said it was just so they were easier to locate in their computer, they are indeed different parts and not just relabled. Also said the part number on one of them would probably change soon.

[shiner2001]

Moogs available on Amazon.com for $41.82 upper and $33.97 lower with free shipping. Part numbers K6098 and K6147. Just an fyi...

[red69ss]

that rubber is a dust shield or something, it does not go between the endcaps and the a arm. if you look at the pic in the link you posted to CPP the part of the endcap that looks threaded goes into the a-arm, you'll see it when you take it apart it's not that complex. good luck

[shiner2001]

Originally Posted by red69ss

that rubber is a dust shield or something, it does not go between the endcaps and the a arm. if you look at the pic in the link you posted to CPP the part of the endcap that looks threaded goes into the a-arm, you'll see it when you take it apart it's not that complex. good luck

Gotcha, I think I see what you're saying. I went ahead and ordered a set of Moogs, so I'll get those and the rest of the front end rebuild tackled soon hopefully. And drop springs, of course

[raycow]

The bushings are threaded on the inside and the shafts are threaded too. The threads wear on both parts in normal use and that is why they are sold together as sets.

Unless you are doing a stock resto, you might want to consider replacing the control arms and shafts with the 73-up type. These use rubber bushings which can be easily replaced when required and also eliminate the need for greasing.

Ray

[shiner2001]

Originally Posted by raycow

Unless you are doing a stock resto, you might want to consider replacing the control arms and shafts with the 73-up type. These use rubber bushings which can be easily replaced when required and also eliminate the need for greasing.

Ray

Do you have any more info about that swap that I can read over or anything? That's the first I've heard about using later model control arms (sorry, I'm still new here...)

[raycow]

Originally Posted by shiner2001

Do you have any more info about that swap that I can read over or anything? That's the first I've heard about using later model control arms (sorry, I'm still new here...)

Well, normally this is done as part of a disc brake swap on 70 and earlier trucks, because it is common to swap the crossmember and everything that is bolted to it. I realize your 72 already has discs, but the later control arms can still be swapped along with their shafts. The holes in your stock crossmember will need to be enlarged for the later U-bolts, but this is the only mod you should have to do.

I believe all the details are covered in this rather long disc brake swap thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ght=disc+brake

Ray

[shiner2001]

Originally Posted by raycow

Well, normally this is done as part of a disc brake swap on 70 and earlier trucks, because it is common to swap the crossmember and everything that is bolted to it. I realize your 72 already has discs, but the later control arms can still be swapped along with their shafts. The holes in your stock crossmember will need to be enlarged for the later U-bolts, but this is the only mod you should have to do.

I believe all the details are covered in this rather long disc brake swap thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ght=disc+brake

Ray

Holy cow, that's a ton of info! I'll pour through that today as I watch the Cowboys get taken behind the shed again.