C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Is my control arm bent?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Yesterday | 05:38 PM
  #1  
Vox Machina's Avatar
Vox Machina
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 411
Likes: 280
From: Indianapolis
Default Is my control arm bent?

So my (previously wrecked) c5 has been getting a suspension rebuild, which has included some vansteel delrin bushings. Went to go install the front upper control arms, and the drivers side is waaaay off.



This a sign that the arm is bent? If I lay it on the floor it rocks as though the rear-ward arm is bent upwards, and I can definitely see the bushings arent on the same plane. Just want to get yalls opinions before I spend money on another one.
Reply
Old Yesterday | 06:24 PM
  #2  
helga203's Avatar
helga203
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,982
Likes: 719
Default

Originally Posted by Vox Machina
So my (previously wrecked) c5 has been getting a suspension rebuild, which has included some vansteel delrin bushings. Went to go install the front upper control arms, and the drivers side is waaaay off.



This a sign that the arm is bent? If I lay it on the floor it rocks as though the rear-ward arm is bent upwards, and I can definitely see the bushings arent on the same plane. Just want to get yalls opinions before I spend money on another one.
What happened to where you would thing it got damaged??
Reply
Old Yesterday | 06:27 PM
  #3  
Vox Machina's Avatar
Vox Machina
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 411
Likes: 280
From: Indianapolis
Default

Originally Posted by helga203
What happened to where you would thing it got damaged??
The car was wrecked when I bought it. Went offroad at highway speeds, took out the front cradle and spring so I wouldnt be surprised if it was hit hard enough to bend it.
Reply
Old Yesterday | 07:09 PM
  #4  
Ltngdrvr's Avatar
Ltngdrvr
Drifting
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 1,002
Default

Can't tell just by looking, no apparent bend compared to the arm on my car.
Reply
Old Yesterday | 07:18 PM
  #5  
Vox Machina's Avatar
Vox Machina
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 411
Likes: 280
From: Indianapolis
Default

Originally Posted by Ltngdrvr
Can't tell just by looking, no apparent bend compared to the arm on my car.


Can definitely see the bolt holes are on a different plane. And i can "rock" the control arm laying on the ground by pushing down where the balljoint goes.

Im fairly certain its bent
Reply
Old Yesterday | 09:14 PM
  #6  
Ltngdrvr's Avatar
Ltngdrvr
Drifting
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 1,002
Default

Get yourself a new arm then, or a good used one from salvage.
Reply
Old Today | 08:41 AM
  #7  
Beast's Avatar
Beast
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 672
From: Pingree Grove IL
Default

Take the other side out too and compare them. Well, if you end up having both of them out, might as well get replacements.
Reply
Old Today | 10:42 AM
  #8  
helga203's Avatar
helga203
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,982
Likes: 719
Default

well how many times i've had to take them off they went back on with 0 issues, my opinion says bend.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-4

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-5

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Today | 11:05 AM
  #9  
Fast one's Avatar
Fast one
Safety Car
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 497
From: Hilton NY
Default

The factory a-arm rubber bushings allowed more adjustment to install the arms but now the Delrin bushings have no slop so that's why things don't fit and it does look like the arm is bent.
Reply
Old Today | 11:23 AM
  #10  
lucky131969's Avatar
lucky131969
Tech Contributor
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,348
Likes: 1,124
From: Dyer, IN
Default

Too many variables before adding the delrin bushings. You cannot evaluate a casting with secondary machining by laying it on a flat surface. Cast surfaces are not control the same way as bores for ball joints and bushings. Lacking a drawing, you would have to have a known good part (bare) to measure on a granite table with setup blocks to be certain....then compare the suspect bad part.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Is my control arm bent?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:24 PM.

story-0
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-6
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-7
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE