bending A-Arm back???
Thread Starter
Team Owner
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From: Hampton, VA Yea, i'm a redneck... but you love it
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bending A-Arm back???
i need help. i am redoing my suspension and i accidentally bent the lower A-Arm on the front left side.
it is spread a little wider and now i need to bend it back about 1/6 of an inch for it to fit in the holes.
any ideas. i have acess to regular home tools.
.
i have tries to stick a rope through the new bushings with screwdrivers on the ends to hold it. then twisting the rope in the middle with a screwdriver to tighten it. it didnt work b/c i couldnt tighten it enough with out teh rope breaking.
it is spread a little wider and now i need to bend it back about 1/6 of an inch for it to fit in the holes. any ideas. i have acess to regular home tools. .i have tries to stick a rope through the new bushings with screwdrivers on the ends to hold it. then twisting the rope in the middle with a screwdriver to tighten it. it didnt work b/c i couldnt tighten it enough with out teh rope breaking.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Jacksonville FL
with getting a good used one. The lower "A" arm is a heavily stressed part especially during spirited driving. While aluminum is a very soft metal, it doesn't take well to being bent and bent back. I would be weary of a stress crack if you attempted to bend it back to try and make it fit.
Try Vette to Vette for a used replacement, or E-bay.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
www.vette2vette.com is a good source. I've used them before with good results.
I would caution you against re bending the aluminum but if you're going to do it take it to a shop with a press and then insist on a die penitrant test to check for stress cracks.
Team Owner
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From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by Midnite 88
with getting a good used one. The lower "A" arm is a heavily stressed part especially during spirited driving. While aluminum is a very soft metal, it doesn't take well to being bent and bent back. I would be weary of a stress crack if you attempted to bend it back to try and make it fit.
Try Vette to Vette for a used replacement, or E-bay.
took the words right outta my mouth.
Jason just got a nice 96 with rear damage... that has a perfect front on it.
Thread Starter
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From: Hampton, VA Yea, i'm a redneck... but you love it
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the bend is very slight and i highly doubt that it would cause a crack. i just cant figure a way t obend it the fraction of an inch back.
Team Owner
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
A hydraulic press will do it, although it will probably bend the other arm in, so you'll have two bent arms and it will be a little off.
It probably won't be an issue, but it's ultimately your *** on the line.
It probably won't be an issue, but it's ultimately your *** on the line.
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Burning Brakes
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From: MidOhio
Originally Posted by Midnite 88
with getting a good used one. The lower "A" arm is a heavily stressed part especially during spirited driving. While aluminum is a very soft metal, it doesn't take well to being bent and bent back. I would be weary of a stress crack if you attempted to bend it back to try and make it fit.
Try Vette to Vette for a used replacement, or E-bay.
The A arm is heat treated forged alum alloy (6061 I believe). This alloy, and most alum alloys will work harden rapidly when bent and rebending aggrevates the problem enormously. You're asking for trouble if you rebend it! Dye penetrant will not show how stressed the metal is. There may be no crack now but the metal may be hard enough that the next significant load impressed on it will push it into yield and it could snap. Try this experiment if you want to get an appreciation of work hardening-take a piece of 1" OD x .049" wall 6061T6 alum tubing (pretty easy to find) and bend it around a 3" radius curved block of wood about 20 degrees. Then bend it back. With luck, you'll get about 5 degrees before it snaps like a pretzel! Bite the bullet and get a good used replacement part (and destroy the bent one so it doesn't get to someone else).
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From: Hampton, VA Yea, i'm a redneck... but you love it
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Originally Posted by tonymax2
The A arm is heat treated forged alum alloy (6061 I believe). This alloy, and most alum alloys will work harden rapidly when bent and rebending aggrevates the problem enormously. You're asking for trouble if you rebend it! Dye penetrant will not show how stressed the metal is. There may be no crack now but the metal may be hard enough that the next significant load impressed on it will push it into yield and it could snap. Try this experiment if you want to get an appreciation of work hardening-take a piece of 1" OD x .049" wall 6061T6 alum tubing (pretty easy to find) and bend it around a 3" radius curved block of wood about 20 degrees. Then bend it back. With luck, you'll get about 5 degrees before it snaps like a pretzel! Bite the bullet and get a good used replacement part (and destroy the bent one so it doesn't get to someone else).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Howard PA
OK, the guy didn't ask if he should, he asked how. I'd get some threaded rod that just fits through the dam thing. Biggest you can fit. Get some huge washers (several on each end would be better) and crank a bit, back off and check, repeat until you measure a difference.
The idea is to not go too far, the things gonna act like giant freaking spring so I'd wear some eye protection and keep my face away.
I just envision pain somehow.
The idea is to not go too far, the things gonna act like giant freaking spring so I'd wear some eye protection and keep my face away.
I just envision pain somehow.
Last edited by ALLT4; Jun 24, 2006 at 11:03 PM.
Melting Slicks
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From: Howard PA
Meh...where there's a will there's a way just like my freakin' hub right now. I will not spend $200.00 on a one time tool, I will not spend $200.00 on a one time tool, I will not spend $200.00 on a one time tool...
I'm swear I'm gonna have one of those "that's so simple why didn't I think of that" moments if I think about it hard enough.
I have some ideas right now but I need to check it tomorrow.
I'm swear I'm gonna have one of those "that's so simple why didn't I think of that" moments if I think about it hard enough.
I have some ideas right now but I need to check it tomorrow.
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From: Hampton, VA Yea, i'm a redneck... but you love it
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Originally Posted by ALLT4
Meh...where there's a will there's a way just like my freakin' hub right now. I will not spend $200.00 on a one time tool, I will not spend $200.00 on a one time tool, I will not spend $200.00 on a one time tool...
I'm swear I'm gonna have one of those "that's so simple why didn't I think of that" moments if I think about it hard enough.
I have some ideas right now but I need to check it tomorrow.
I'm swear I'm gonna have one of those "that's so simple why didn't I think of that" moments if I think about it hard enough.
I have some ideas right now but I need to check it tomorrow.