Control arm question...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Manalapan FL
Control arm question...
I pulled my upper & lower control arms and brought them to a reputable Corvette mechanic to remove/install the bushings. They were in pretty bad shape when I removed them, so I had them sand-blasted and primered. Delivered them to the mechanic clean with the existing bushings in place. The control arm shafts were sorta frozen but moved with some exertion & a wrench to assist.
Now, with new bushings, two of the shafts rotate freely, one of them rotates with difficulty and the last one only turns with a wrench applied.
Did the mechanic do something wrong? Are these still usable?
Thanks in advance,
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Now, with new bushings, two of the shafts rotate freely, one of them rotates with difficulty and the last one only turns with a wrench applied.
Did the mechanic do something wrong? Are these still usable?
Thanks in advance,
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
If I understand you correctly my guess is some of the bolts are loose and some are tighter which doesn't matter since they shouldn't be torqued down until they're in the car with weight on the wheels, especially if they're rubber. 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Manalapan FL
Originally Posted by jdmick
If I understand you correctly my guess is some of the bolts are loose and some are tighter which doesn't matter since they shouldn't be torqued down until they're in the car with weight on the wheels, especially if they're rubber.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Manalapan FL
Originally Posted by jeaux
I agree with jdmick loosen up the bolt a bit, unless your shaft or the arm is bent. Did your Mech. press them in or install them with a hammer?
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by 74FLCONV
The control arms are still un-mounted. No bolts, yet.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Minnesota
I don't think I'd worry about it. When you tighten the end shaft bolts all the movement should be in the bushing itself. Correct me if I'm wrong but with rubber ones the only movement allowed is the twisting of the rubber. With poly there is movement between the shaft bushing and the poly inner bushing. 
Last edited by jdmick; Mar 30, 2005 at 11:21 PM.