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My mechanic says the new bearing is a sloppy fit in the 3rd arm and asked me if I could get a new one. I told him about the thread on here about drilling it and putting set screws in it but he had some reason for not wanting to do it. That was over a month ago and I don't remember why. Does anyone repo it?
I agree, there should be a boatload of GOOD used ones out there at VERY reasonable prices.
Anybody have an idea of where to advertise to find these people. I have a WTB ad here but only one response that was not productive?
I wonder how many people know what a 3rd arm is? For years I referred to it as a center steering link until I found out what Chevrolet actually called it.
Unless you are looking for correctness, either part would work.
The short boss piece may need some shimming to clear *something*, but the long boss piece would work on all years. the minor geometry change is not material.
Doug
As I remember, the change from thin to thick occurred in (late) 56 or (early) 57. The change was related to a geometry situation. BUT, before the change occurred, Two thick spacers were added between the cross member and the rear of the steering arm bracket to drop it down about 1/4in. By 57 the change over had occurred to the thicker bracket. The thicker bracket will be the most common one to find. the change MAY have occurred at about the same time that the shims got added between the cross member and the frame rails. I'm not sure that there is any good documentation available on these 2 changes.
I had completely forgotten that I took those pictures that Roy posted above. Since Photobucket has hijacked all of our pictures, I have lost tons of pictures the their ransom demands!!!!!
It's good that Roy captured those pictures before the Photobucket hijack.
Here is a picture of the early bracket with the 2 spacers.
As I remember, the change from thin to thick occurred in (late) 56 or (early) 57. The change was related to a geometry situation. BUT, before the change occurred, Two thick spacers were added between the cross member and the rear of the steering arm bracket to drop it down about 1/4in. By 57 the change over had occurred to the thicker bracket. The thicker bracket will be the most common one to find. the change MAY have occurred at about the same time that the shims got added between the cross member and the frame rails. I'm not sure that there is any good documentation available on these 2 changes.
I had completely forgotten that I took those pictures that Roy posted above. Since Photobucket has hijacked all of our pictures, I have lost tons of pictures the their ransom demands!!!!!
It's good that Roy captured those pictures before the Photobucket hijack.
Here is a picture of the early bracket with the 2 spacers.
I copy pic. of many C1 Items that are interest to me and other like your's you posted . I have a vary large collection of pic from members anything to do with C1 53 to 57. But mostly all 1955 pic's of every original and NOS part early-mid-late ,that's my biggest interest 55 Corvette back when few cared about 55:s
My mechanic says the new bearing is a sloppy fit in the 3rd arm and asked me if I could get a new one. I told him about the thread on here about drilling it and putting set screws in it but he had some reason for not wanting to do it. That was over a month ago and I don't remember why. Does anyone repo it?
Did you find your 3rd arm? if not I have one from a 62. Call me if you still need one.
Marty (513) 484-6193
Anywhere to buy a 3rd arm suspension piece?
