Upper Control Arm Bumper
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 215
Likes: 7
From: Chardon Ohio
Upper Control Arm Bumper
I just finished putting my front control arms back together with new bushings, ball joints, springs and shocks. After admiring the finished job for a few minutes I realized I forgot to put the new upper bumpers on....wth??? Can I get these put on once I put the engine back in and get some weight on the suspension or should I bite the bullet and take off the upper ball joint and put them in now. P.S. the springs were a PIA due to no weight on the suspension....
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Just checked, with the engine etc in I can pass my fingers between the bumper and the upper control arm.
It'll be a PIA to manipulate them into place but you should be able to pop them in (they go in fairly easy especially with some white grease on the nub part)
Or, wait until the motor is in and with a jack under the lower arm, disconnect the upper and make it easy
M
It'll be a PIA to manipulate them into place but you should be able to pop them in (they go in fairly easy especially with some white grease on the nub part)
Or, wait until the motor is in and with a jack under the lower arm, disconnect the upper and make it easy
M
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Wrap a piece of twine around the narrow part of the bumper and feed both ends up through the mounting hole. Apply some upward pressure to the mount and pull on the twine. It should pull the tapered end up through the mounting hole and allow the bumper to seat properly. I didn't invent this technique and I forget where I saw it but it works like a charm.
Rick B.
Rick B.
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
I did this once.. on a body off job..
I just installed the "home made" spring compressor.. and it raised the upper arm enough that I could install the upper bumper.
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/c...r-on-a-budget/
I just installed the "home made" spring compressor.. and it raised the upper arm enough that I could install the upper bumper.
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/c...r-on-a-budget/
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Oct 19, 2015 at 04:51 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 383
Likes: 16
From: SARNIA ONTARIO
I did same thing last week but sadly never thought of string so I removed spring again so I could get pliers on rubber to pull down all back together now. Seems like I do a lot of jobs twice. Phil
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Omaha NE
With spring out and control arms pushed away. I lubed rubber bumper and hole with dish soap. Using a 6 inch C clamp and 1 1/8 inch socket I was able to press it into the frame. (socket is underneath in spring tower) Put soap on all mating surfaces where bumper meets frame because you will need to rotate the C clamp back and forth. Without enough soap, the bumper will not spin on the frame which is necessary to get the nipple in the hole. Pressure alone did not work for me on my 68 corvette.
