73-87 A-arms, need help!

[a squarecan]

Hey guys,

I did not notice a problem until I got everything bolted back together but my upper and lower A-arms barely move, it takes a great deal of force to move them and then once you let go they go back to their old resting place. Is this how they are suppose to be? Or is there something seriously wrong? Is it time for new bushings?

Hope it is something simple!

Thanks
Keith

[dwcsr]

if your using stock rubber bushings, yes. Your suppose to tighten the end nuts after you install the arms and it is at ride height.

[bagged74]

yeah, it sounds liek you have pre-loaded your bushings. loosen them back up and retighten them at ride height.

[a squarecan]

Thanks guys,

Will new poly busings fix this problem? If I dont need them I wont get them, but my truck is bagged and it seams like the stiffness bushings may cause a problem with the bags??

Thanks again guys,
Keith

[dwcsr]

There is nothing wrong with the rubber you have you just need to readjust them. The rubber is supposed to flex. The ride is better with rubber. It may squeak and the ride will be rougher with poly. I took the ploy out of mine and went back to rubber. By the time rubber breaks down it will be another 20 years.

[a squarecan]

I should say I have the original rubbers in there right now. I have a 64 and swapped over to later model a-arms and ball joints. Sinse the arms are off a 73 should I replace them? They are cracking and look very dry. If I need to replace them where can I get rubber bushings? I was looking at chevy duty and they only sell poly bushings.

Thanks
Keith

[qksilver]

They are a very popular part, so there shouldn't be any problem getting factory style rubber bushing almost any where. The poly ones are easy to get, either look in a mag or do a search online.
Install them put the truck on the ground, with the tires and wheel installed, then torque to spec

[dwcsr]

if they are original I would replace them. Either stylr is readily avaiable, it all depends on what you want.

[a squarecan]

Thanks for all the help guys!

I just got my new motor mounts installed and new outlet holes in the crossmember to run my air line. I need to pick up some new grade 8 hardware so I can bolt the engine in it's nicely new position 1.5 inches forward on the crossmember. Install new bushings and my front end will be dragging in no time.!!!

Keith

[a squarecan]

Hey guys!

I am running into a problem I am hoping someone has ran into before 'cause I am having a hell of a time with it!

I went to replace the bushings in the LCA's and got the first bolt off with out a problem, but when I went to get the 2nd bolt off from the other end it wouldn't budge! The biggest problem is that when I try to put any torque on it the inside shaft starts to turn. Has anyone had this problem? Any ideas?

Thanks
Keith

[dwcsr]

Heat it up or put it back in and then loosen the nut. or both

[a squarecan]

Thanks dwcsr!

I did try heat with no luck but I havent tried bolting them back in and then giving it a try. That will be the next thing I try. I hate set backs like this!

Keith

[a squarecan]

Alright guys,

I bolted everything back up and finally broke the bolts loose. Took 175ft lbs of torque to get it to brake lose but it did.

Any ways now I am curious how a guy would go about getting his old bushings out? Is it something a shop is going to have to do or am I just looking at it wrong?

Thanks
Keith