Mismatched Control Arms?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 293
Likes: 6
From: Santa Ana CA
Mismatched Control Arms?
In the process of a complete front end rebuild, and got all 4 control arms out today, and when I started cleaning them up, I noticed the right and left control arms are not an exact match.
Is this typical??
Is this typical??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 33
From: McGrady NC
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
I'd guess, unless your car was wrecked at some time and newer parts were different from older ones, that Chevy switched suppliers at some time and your car and probably many others received parts just as you have.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 385
Likes: 3
From: Leesburg VA
I am betting it had front end damage at some point and they went to the junk yard to get parts to fix it. Maybe Wilcox or one of the suppliers can chime in to when the pivot rods changed from flat to round or vice versa. The rods on my 74 are flat.
John
John
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,595
Likes: 7,043
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
It's worse than we thought..........
the coil spring depression is 180* "out" on one of the arms!!!!
(So much for "The G.M. Quality Control Department")
the coil spring depression is 180* "out" on one of the arms!!!!
(So much for "The G.M. Quality Control Department")
Last edited by doorgunner; Jun 23, 2014 at 06:58 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 293
Likes: 6
From: Santa Ana CA
Yeah, seems there must have been some damage to the front end at some point. There was some bad welding on then bracket that mounts the hydraulic ram to the frame, so guessing it might be related. Who knows.
As long as there is not a really good reason to not use these, I'll be putting them back in.
As long as there is not a really good reason to not use these, I'll be putting them back in.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 293
Likes: 6
From: Santa Ana CA
At suggestions on how to easily clean these up and paint them before I reinstall? Clearly not a show car, but I'd feel much better knowing that I at least put them back in better than I found them.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 293
Likes: 6
From: Santa Ana CA
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,595
Likes: 7,043
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
So.....whatever their hourly rate is.................or $50....whichever is higher.....
but it will be worth it......unless you have a good-size air compressor in your garage---then you could buy a spot-blaster and use "play-ground sand" to blast them behind the garage (just throwing that out there).
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 385
Likes: 3
From: Leesburg VA
Local results for sandblasting santa ana ca
1 Precision Powder Coating
precisionpowder.com
1236 E Normandy Pl, Santa Ana, CA, US, 92705 · (714) 648-0280
2 High-Tech Coatings Inc
www.hightechcoatingsinc.com
1724 S Santa Fe St, Santa Ana, CA, US, 92705 · (714) 547-2122
3 Western Blasting and Metalizing
www.westernblast.com
4521 W 1st St, Santa Ana, CA, US, 92703 · (714) 775-7374
Search engines are your friend. I do not know about these, but they came up in a search.
John
1 Precision Powder Coating
precisionpowder.com
1236 E Normandy Pl, Santa Ana, CA, US, 92705 · (714) 648-0280
2 High-Tech Coatings Inc
www.hightechcoatingsinc.com
1724 S Santa Fe St, Santa Ana, CA, US, 92705 · (714) 547-2122
3 Western Blasting and Metalizing
www.westernblast.com
4521 W 1st St, Santa Ana, CA, US, 92703 · (714) 775-7374
Search engines are your friend. I do not know about these, but they came up in a search.
John
Last edited by LudemJo; Jun 25, 2014 at 11:15 AM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 355
Likes: 18
From: Corona Ca
There were also a few shops in Orange, CA I have used, but cannot find them now. Also, as noted by John above, look for powder coating shops, some of them will blast parts without coating them, although sometimes the cost of blasting AND coating can come out pretty cheap.
My experience with sandblasting shops:
1 - asking for a quote up front usually cost more than dropping the stuff off and paying what they ask when you pick up. Had quote for 4 15x8 Rally rims, was $100. Same place, just dropped off 12 15x7 Rally rims without quote, was $120
2 - more sometimes cost the same amount or less per piece, as they just work the stuff all within the time limit they charge by.
Any other bits you want to get cleaned up while you are there?
Also, if there are areas you don't want the shop to blast (bearing surfaces or spindle ends), I advise you to tape these areas off before dropping off instead of trusting the shop to do it. Use a heavy duct tape to protect these surfaces.
Good luck,
Tom
My experience with sandblasting shops:
1 - asking for a quote up front usually cost more than dropping the stuff off and paying what they ask when you pick up. Had quote for 4 15x8 Rally rims, was $100. Same place, just dropped off 12 15x7 Rally rims without quote, was $120
2 - more sometimes cost the same amount or less per piece, as they just work the stuff all within the time limit they charge by.
Any other bits you want to get cleaned up while you are there?
Also, if there are areas you don't want the shop to blast (bearing surfaces or spindle ends), I advise you to tape these areas off before dropping off instead of trusting the shop to do it. Use a heavy duct tape to protect these surfaces.
Good luck,
Tom
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 23
From: KY
Bracket
Yeah, seems there must have been some damage to the front end at some point. There was some bad welding on then bracket that mounts the hydraulic ram to the frame, so guessing it might be related. Who knows.
As long as there is not a really good reason to not use these, I'll be putting them back in.
As long as there is not a really good reason to not use these, I'll be putting them back in.
That bracket should be bolted to the frame.