Control Arms: Nuts?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Manalapan FL
Control Arms: Nuts?
Received a "control arm hardware kit" from Eckler's today which contains all the nuts, bolts & washers required to re-mount the front A-arms.
These nuts were in the package and I have no clue as to what they're for:
They're approximately 1/2" "tall" (about twice as high as a standard nut of the same size), fit a 7/16" bolt and require a 9/16" wrench. Threads are not coarse (they don't fit the upper a-arm to chassis studs).
Thanks in advance,
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
These nuts were in the package and I have no clue as to what they're for:
They're approximately 1/2" "tall" (about twice as high as a standard nut of the same size), fit a 7/16" bolt and require a 9/16" wrench. Threads are not coarse (they don't fit the upper a-arm to chassis studs).
Thanks in advance,
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
[QUOTE=74FLCONV]Received a "control arm hardware kit" from Eckler's today which contains all the nuts, bolts & washers required to re-mount the front A-arms.
These nuts were in the package and I have no clue as to what they're for:
aren't there nuts to hold the alignment shims in place?
did they give you the new washers for the lower control arm? if so i can i have one of your old ones? believe it or not but one of my bolts, bushing and washer walked off the job!!! so if you don't need one of the lower control arm washers i could put it too good use. thks bob
These nuts were in the package and I have no clue as to what they're for:
aren't there nuts to hold the alignment shims in place?
did they give you the new washers for the lower control arm? if so i can i have one of your old ones? believe it or not but one of my bolts, bushing and washer walked off the job!!! so if you don't need one of the lower control arm washers i could put it too good use. thks bob
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
I might have an extra Bob. You mean the big retainer washer
on the end of the bushings ? Send me a PM and I'll let you know if I find one.
Those aren't the nuts that hold the upper cross shaft on.
They look like top shock nuts. You said 9/16" wrench ? fine thread ?
... but a 7/16" bolt ?
Maybe to replace the nut-bars that hold the front of the lower cross shafts ?
on the end of the bushings ? Send me a PM and I'll let you know if I find one.
Those aren't the nuts that hold the upper cross shaft on.
They look like top shock nuts. You said 9/16" wrench ? fine thread ?
... but a 7/16" bolt ?
Maybe to replace the nut-bars that hold the front of the lower cross shafts ?
Last edited by NHvette; Apr 1, 2005 at 11:37 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Manalapan FL
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
did they give you the new washers for the lower control arm? if so i can i have one of your old ones?
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Manalapan FL
Originally Posted by NHvette
You said 9/16" wrench ? fine thread ?
... but a 7/16" bolt ?
Maybe to replace the nut-bars that hold the front of the lower cross shafts ?
... but a 7/16" bolt ?
Maybe to replace the nut-bars that hold the front of the lower cross shafts ?
It does fit the front bolts on the lowers, but... do I use these or the "nut-bars" (nut-bars were not included in the kit)?
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by 74FLCONV
Yes. Using a bolt sizing template, the bolt is sized 7/16". You use a 9/16" wrench to tighten it.
It does fit the front bolts on the lowers, but... do I use these or the "nut-bars" (nut-bars were not included in the kit)?
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
It does fit the front bolts on the lowers, but... do I use these or the "nut-bars" (nut-bars were not included in the kit)?
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
by the "nut bar" do you mean the control arm shaft? the bolts, bushings screw into this shaft which connects the two ends of the lower control arm together...the bushings rotate on the end of the shaft and you must use this...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Nut bar is in my picture above.
You screw the two lower cross-shaft front bolts - up into it.
I wouldn't use those nuts.
Stick with the originals and clean 'em up.
This is the area where people's front crossmembers tear apart
when they get weak. You want as much support from the cross-shaft
to the crossmember as you can get. The forces pull down directly on
this "nut-bar".
You screw the two lower cross-shaft front bolts - up into it.
I wouldn't use those nuts.
Stick with the originals and clean 'em up.
This is the area where people's front crossmembers tear apart
when they get weak. You want as much support from the cross-shaft
to the crossmember as you can get. The forces pull down directly on
this "nut-bar".
Last edited by NHvette; Apr 1, 2005 at 11:55 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by 74FLCONV
That's a nice nut-bar you have there! 
Even with cleaning, my nut-bar doesn't look that good.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Even with cleaning, my nut-bar doesn't look that good.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
nothing on my car looks that good....are you sure thats not gold plated?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by 74FLCONV
The sad thing is...after all this hard work on our front ends, the only two people who are going to see it are yourself and the oil-monkey.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
cross me off that list....i didn't see it or even feel it and i'm always fiddling around with the car.....had it not been for the mechanics looking at the steeroids set up out of curiosity i think they even would have missed it
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
The normal thread on the studs for the upper A arms is 7/16 fine. I know this because you can use wheel studs in place of those studs if you damage one. The knurl is the same and you do not use coarse theads on those A arm studs.
The shims are held in by being trapped between the frame and the cross shaft,
Could they use those nuts to pull in new studs if you are replacing the old ones????
The shims are held in by being trapped between the frame and the cross shaft,
Could they use those nuts to pull in new studs if you are replacing the old ones????
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Manalapan FL
Originally Posted by norvalwilhelm
The normal thread on the studs for the upper A arms is 7/16 fine. I know this because you can use wheel studs in place of those studs if you damage one. The knurl is the same and you do not use coarse theads on those A arm studs.
The shims are held in by being trapped between the frame and the cross shaft,
Could they use those nuts to pull in new studs if you are replacing the old ones????
The shims are held in by being trapped between the frame and the cross shaft,
Could they use those nuts to pull in new studs if you are replacing the old ones????
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA