Control arms
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 988
Likes: 183
From: South Carolina
Control arms
I’m pulling the stock engine next week,and putting in comp ex268h cam in,and thought this would be a good time to either repair or replace my upper and lower control arms,the ones on here now 82k on car,so they are pretty worn,what’s the best as for handling,don’t care if it’s stock,or aftermarket,and I’ve heard and seen horror stories of taking these bushing out of a 40 year car,or is it just better to buy a new pair.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 1,723
From: Summerville SC
On my 78 I managed to get the old bushings out with a little work and then I replaced them with the red plastic ones without any issues. Put the engine back in and fast forward a few years to when I was actually getting ready to drive the thing. I tried to get my castor/camber correct and couldn’t come close. At the end of the story I ended up buying a new set of UCA with delran(i think that was what they were called) bushings installed. They also had about 4 or 5 degrees of camber built into them so I didn’thave to shim out too much. Basically it was one side giving me problems most likely the result of a bad crash on that side a long time ago. The lesson learned, for me anyway, was I should have done that the first time. It was not fun doing it with the engine in place. Actually the engine wasn’t the problem but rather the dual elec fan shroud that got in my was. If you know the history of the car and know it was aligned properly, count the shims at each location on the arms. If not, get new ones of some type since none of these cars can get good alignment without some help. 
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 143
Likes: 28
From: Colorado Springs
My experience on a 78
Easy enough to push the old bushings out. I had problems pressing the new rubber bushings in. Tried making a spacer to keep from distorting the arms while pressing in the new bushings but failed. Ended up taking them to the local Vette shop which had a good jig and spare arms to ensure everything was true. Best money I spent since I know the car was mashed in the front before I got it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 2,468
From: Indiana
I’m pulling the stock engine next week,and putting in comp ex268h cam in,and thought this would be a good time to either repair or replace my upper and lower control arms,the ones on here now 82k on car,so they are pretty worn,what’s the best as for handling,don’t care if it’s stock,or aftermarket,and I’ve heard and seen horror stories of taking these bushing out of a 40 year car,or is it just better to buy a new pair.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rs-method.html
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,948
Likes: 4,506
From: Virginia
I had a local garage remove my old LCA bushings, but I was able to push in new poly bushings. For the UCAs, I switched to SPC adjustables. Much easier to get lots of caster that way.
For a "while I was in there" punchcard, consider:
Replace/refresh radiator
Remove shroud, convert to electric fans
Add spreader bar
Lots of wire wheel and painting
For a "while I was in there" punchcard, consider:
Replace/refresh radiator
Remove shroud, convert to electric fans
Add spreader bar
Lots of wire wheel and painting
