A-arm bolts pulling through washer - WTF ???
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I had my top bolts back out some years ago, after replacing the poly I put in 18 years ago, with rubber this go around......I retightened with locktite RED.....never an issue since then now here is a funny....
all my years of working on cars, the only bolts I have any respect for the torque specs are engine head bolts, and main/rod cap bolts, all else is a time waster, just use some common sense,
and these nutz at tire shops torquing wheel lugs to 100 ft lbs are KRAZY.....
mine get 5 taps after seated with the Ingersol 1/2 impact on 125 lbs pressure,
Keep in mind those control arm bushing bolts are tightened with the suspension totally loaded with car weight, so the inner sleeve spins on the cross shaft ends, then gets clamped down snug with the washer/bolt setup.....
all my years of working on cars, the only bolts I have any respect for the torque specs are engine head bolts, and main/rod cap bolts, all else is a time waster, just use some common sense,
and these nutz at tire shops torquing wheel lugs to 100 ft lbs are KRAZY.....
mine get 5 taps after seated with the Ingersol 1/2 impact on 125 lbs pressure,
Keep in mind those control arm bushing bolts are tightened with the suspension totally loaded with car weight, so the inner sleeve spins on the cross shaft ends, then gets clamped down snug with the washer/bolt setup.....
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Bill- The AIM only specifies you leave the lowers loose.. Why just the lowers.. I have no idea.
It has been my practice to leave both upper and lower bolts loose prior to setting the car down to prevent any unnecessary twisting of the bushing (even while installing). Tightening to a specific angle seems as if it would take more time to do vs. just installing it and then tightening the bolts. IMHO.
Besides on this car they are easy to get too...
It has been my practice to leave both upper and lower bolts loose prior to setting the car down to prevent any unnecessary twisting of the bushing (even while installing). Tightening to a specific angle seems as if it would take more time to do vs. just installing it and then tightening the bolts. IMHO.
Besides on this car they are easy to get too...
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Dec 2, 2012 at 10:27 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,756
Likes: 2,589
I believe the reason you do it with a settled suspension is, if you look at the inner sleeve above, it has small teeth which imbed themselves into the washer as you tighten it making the inner sleeve and washer twist together as the suspension moves. Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,404
Likes: 1,595
From: Western NY
I believe the reason you do it with a settled suspension is, if you look at the inner sleeve above, it has small teeth which imbed themselves into the washer as you tighten it making the inner sleeve and washer twist together as the suspension moves. Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
the upper a-frame bolts are really tough to get to on my particular car,an early '76.i did not want to disturb the shroud so i devised a way to reproduce the a-frame to rod angle while at rest on it's natural weight.this was not really difficult and saved me a bunch of potential grief.with nothing else changing in the suspension,except ball joints,i felt i could reproduce that angle as if it was installed on the frame.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
the upper a-frame bolts are really tough to get to on my particular car,an early '76.i did not want to disturb the shroud so i devised a way to reproduce the a-frame to rod angle while at rest on it's natural weight.this was not really difficult and saved me a bunch of potential grief.with nothing else changing in the suspension,except ball joints,i felt i could reproduce that angle as if it was installed on the frame.
I'll also say.. this 65 in the pic above came in for a carpet install... and it's kicking our Azz.. right now... Were 14 weeks behind. But I'm not complaining.. Busy is good..
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
As a final note : Zip wanted to reembourse me for the hardware. Since I already installed the originals I offered they repay me for postage so I could sent them the damaged washers, so they could examine them.
Going to the postoffice tomorrow.
Hopefully others will benefit from this.
Going to the postoffice tomorrow.
Hopefully others will benefit from this.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,266
Likes: 156
From: Galloway Twp. NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
It has become the butt of many a joke 
It is true though. First the carpet... then the dash cluster was to be refreshed. Then we were told by the customer that there may be a water leak.. The lower corners of both windshield pillars were rusted all the way through. The only way to get to this is by removing the front end... You can follow this restoration and a few others on our facebook page.
It is true though. First the carpet... then the dash cluster was to be refreshed. Then we were told by the customer that there may be a water leak.. The lower corners of both windshield pillars were rusted all the way through. The only way to get to this is by removing the front end... You can follow this restoration and a few others on our facebook page.