How hard is it to remove/replace A-arms?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
I believe Lars has a paper detailing A-arm removal. It can be done without a spring compressor if the body is on the car. It can also be done without a compressor on a bare frame with a bit more drama. If you want to replace the bushing shells you will need to press them in but other than that I can't think of any special tools that you will need.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Pull the Wheel, caliper, hub assy, shock mt upper
Disconnect the sway bar, steering
pop the upper ball joint loose (get a ball joint fork)
then the bottom ball joint
remove the spindle
then the frame mts where the upper a-arm connects
Pull the upper a-arm off.
Remove the lower a arm bolts the lower a-arm, spring and shock will fall
remove shock mt lower pull the shock out
Thats it
IOt took me about 1 1/2 hr to pull 1 side apart. I had to heat some bolts up to get them out..
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Im in the process of doing mine right now. I have A 68 but it should be the same..
Pull the Wheel, caliper, hub assy, shock mt upper
Disconnect the sway bar, steering
pop the upper ball joint loose (get a ball joint fork)
then the bottom ball joint
remove the spindle
then the frame mts where the upper a-arm connects
Pull the upper a-arm off.
Remove the lower a arm bolts the lower a-arm, spring and shock will fall
remove shock mt lower pull the shock out
Thats it
IOt took me about 1 1/2 hr to pull 1 side apart. I had to heat some bolts up to get them out..
Pull the Wheel, caliper, hub assy, shock mt upper
Disconnect the sway bar, steering
pop the upper ball joint loose (get a ball joint fork)
then the bottom ball joint
remove the spindle
then the frame mts where the upper a-arm connects
Pull the upper a-arm off.
Remove the lower a arm bolts the lower a-arm, spring and shock will fall
remove shock mt lower pull the shock out
Thats it
IOt took me about 1 1/2 hr to pull 1 side apart. I had to heat some bolts up to get them out..
Oh yea, I put the a arms on my vise and used a small drill bit and drilled holes around the bushing to get the rubber out then pulled the shaft out of the upper. The shaft wont come out of the lower. Its longer. Then you beat the bushing sleve off of the shaft..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 845
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Indiana
John
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Redding California
An easy way to get the bushings out is to use a one inch hole saw. It cuts through the rubber easily and then you can remove the sleeve. I just did mine. It takes about 15 minutes per bushing. Someone before posted how to do it with the hole saw. It works and it is easy.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: McComb Ms.
you can get a rental spring compressor free with purchase, your probably gonna need lower ball joints too. tear it down to ball joint and check lowers, theres a 2 day limit on spring compressor usage. getting ball joints out can be a task if u don't have the proper tools, theres 3 diff types ball joint tools i've seen that work,some better than others, i used the split fork hammer type and my hammer got a workout, plan your work, work your plan and you can do it all in a day and get the rental unit back with plenty time. just order your bushings and have them on hand before u start.
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: McKinney TX
Be careful with the spring. I just did mine as well. Pull the shock then run a piece of all thread down thru the spring. Put a big washer or plate on either end of the all thread followed by a nut. tighten the nuts at the top and bottom to compress the spring. Once you've broken the ball joints loose slowly lossen the nuts to let tension off of the spring. This is a safe way to do it. It may take some time to tighten and untighten the screws on the all thread, but its worth it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
On my 79 I had to press out the upper control arm mounting studs to get the arms free. As per the Lars paper (look on corvette faq, paper is generic for C2 and C3 front suspension rebuild) I used a 4" C-Clamp and an oversized socket to press the bolts out. Otherwise I would have had to take out the rad and the shroud. Not a bad job overall.
I sent all the control arms off to VanSteel for a full refurb...beautiful job and easy to rationalize the cost since I wasn't paying labor for the "easy" work. Popped them filthy suckers in a box and they came back all shiny and new. ~$400 for a poly package with the CF member discount (less for rubber), includes rivetted balljoints and bumpers. Worth considering...
http://wiki.corvettefaq.com/index.php?title=Suspension
Rebuild Front End in a C2
I sent all the control arms off to VanSteel for a full refurb...beautiful job and easy to rationalize the cost since I wasn't paying labor for the "easy" work. Popped them filthy suckers in a box and they came back all shiny and new. ~$400 for a poly package with the CF member discount (less for rubber), includes rivetted balljoints and bumpers. Worth considering...
http://wiki.corvettefaq.com/index.php?title=Suspension
Rebuild Front End in a C2
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
I sent all the control arms off to VanSteel for a full refurb...beautiful job and easy to rationalize the cost since I wasn't paying labor for the "easy" work. Popped them filthy suckers in a box and they came back all shiny and new. ~$400 for a poly package with the CF member discount (less for rubber), includes rivetted balljoints and bumpers. Worth considering...
http://wiki.corvettefaq.com/index.php?title=Suspension
Rebuild Front End in a C2
http://wiki.corvettefaq.com/index.php?title=Suspension
Rebuild Front End in a C2
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,391
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
My paper outlines the entire process with all tools needed. It's very easy and quick to do. You can e-mail me for a copy. You don't need a press or a spring compressor, but it does help to have air tools.
V8FastCars@msn.com
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
Lars
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Rick B.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
When I poped the upper joint it just dropped kind of normal. Am I gonna have to do anything to put it back in?. Also do you guys think I should cut them while I have em out if I want to lower the front end and how much??.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 0
From: Oakville Ontario
My paper outlines the entire process with all tools needed. It's very easy and quick to do. You can e-mail me for a copy. You don't need a press or a spring compressor, but it does help to have air tools.
V8FastCars@msn.com
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
Lars
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Rick B.