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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 02:48 PM
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Default Control Arm Question

I am doing my first complete front suspension rebuild on my 80 and After I removed and painted the upper control arms,I laid them on the garage floor left and right side,but when I got home from work,my wife had pushed them out of the way and now I am not certain which is left or right side, any way to tell without much difficulty?
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 03:58 PM
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Well I did the same thing and I think it would difficult to install them on the wrong sides. Just hold them up and look for aligment of the ball joints and spindle. Spindle should pretty much verticle if you have the left and right confused the spindle would tilt foward or back.
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 04:02 PM
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Default The answer is???

the sway bar mounting holes/ bracket are to the front - and if i rem correctly the upper have the "flat side " to the rear.
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by masterspydog
the sway bar mounting holes/ bracket are to the front - and if i rem correctly the upper have the "flat side " to the rear.
They sweep to the rear.
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 05:12 PM
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Thanks all for your help,much appreciated !!:
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by masterspydog
the sway bar mounting holes/ bracket are to the front - and if i rem correctly the upper have the "flat side " to the rear.
I've got a 76 and the sway bar end links connect to the LOWER arms, not the uppers. Did something change in 80?
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 07:36 PM
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i pulled both mine off at the same time about 20 years ago. Don't remember if i kept track of that. I guess i wouldn't have any caster at all if i had got it wrong.
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by BARRY L-48
I am doing my first complete front suspension rebuild on my 80 and After I removed and painted the upper control arms,I laid them on the garage floor left and right side,but when I got home from work,my wife had pushed them out of the way and now I am not certain which is left or right side, any way to tell without much difficulty?

I'm glad you asked this question because I did the same thing.
FYI, I priced getting bushings installed and was quoted $15 per bushing; that's $120!. Today I went to Harbor Freight and bought a 12-ton hydraulic press for $106. I just finished building my upper control arms. Tomorrow I attack the lowers. See you on the road.
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by The3
FYI, I priced getting bushings installed and was quoted $15 per bushing; that's $120!. .
turn key installed? Mechanics must be starving for work in Michigan.
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 08:56 PM
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I'm glad you asked this question because I did the same thing.
FYI, I priced getting bushings installed and was quoted $15 per bushing; that's $120!. Today I went to Harbor Freight and bought a 12-ton hydraulic press for $106. I just finished building my upper control arms. Tomorrow I attack the lowers. See you on the road.
I used lar's paper for the front suspension rebuild. As long as you have an air chisel, big sockets, and patience, it's no problem (and the right bushings )
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Old Mar 4, 2007 | 02:21 AM
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Default Bushing removal

To remove the upper control arm bushing,I used a 1" holesaw to cut out the rubber and then just used a hammer and small chisel to pop out the metal shell.On the lower control arms I used a 1 1/8 holesaw to cut out the rubber and again a hammer and chisel to tap out the metal shell. I installed poly bushings and they were easy to install,just separate the bushing and tap in the metal shell and then install the bushing,was very easy to do!
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Old Mar 4, 2007 | 03:55 AM
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Originally Posted by BARRY L-48
To remove the upper control arm bushing,I used a 1" holesaw to cut out the rubber and then just used a hammer and small chisel to pop out the metal shell.On the lower control arms I used a 1 1/8 holesaw to cut out the rubber and again a hammer and chisel to tap out the metal shell. I installed poly bushings and they were easy to install,just separate the bushing and tap in the metal shell and then install the bushing,was very easy to do!
It's easier to skip the hole saw and just whack out the shell, bringing the bushing with it.
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Old Mar 4, 2007 | 08:41 AM
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Originally Posted by turtlevette
turn key installed? Mechanics must be starving for work in Michigan.
I was surprised at the price and had to ask again if it was $15 per bushing. It was. Besides, the guys at the shop didn't have a lot of confidence that they could press the bushings in.
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Old Mar 4, 2007 | 10:10 AM
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If you use a press be sure you have support between the arms or you'll wreck the arms. I cut a piece of EMT and cut out some slots to support the arms.
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