Ever break a control arm like this?

[70ptta]

Why do you think my arm snapped like this? I know ball joints can break but I never seen this. Good thing I was driving slow when it let go.

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[BR3W CITY]

I'm not used to steel sheering in a line like that! I'd usually assume it was a fluke from lowering the truck (or how bad modern roads are), but since it broke in a straight line, I'm less tempted to think that. That almost looks like it broke clean along an axis.

Were you going up a curb/egress or something? I'd think you'd have to really twist the suspension to fatigue the metal that far. Only other thought I'd have if that balljoint has been bad a while and slowly fatigued the metal around it from moving. I guess that could weaken it until it finally broke...but I've never seen that before.

[tinydb84]

I have never seen one break like that. Pick and pull charges like $25 for them. Where in San Jose are you at?

[70ptta]

BR3W CITY - I was thinking the ball joint thing too. Luckily it happend right when I started driving and not when i hopped on the freeway.

tinydb84 - Im over in the Alum Rock area. Im going to have to give pick n pull a shot since this is my daily. I got to get her running asap.

I heard that i can use the a arms past 72 just have to change the ball joint. Up to what year I can use and for new ball joints is there any to stay away from?

[tinydb84]

I have had better luck with the pick and pull in Santa Clara.

I believe the lower ball joints are the same from 70-87. The bushings on the shaft are different though.

[michael bustamante]

lower ball joint. 71-72 then 73 on up.
you can use the 1/2 ton control arms from 73+ though

[BigRed76]

That is bizarre. My guess would be the control arm got cracked or damaged from when that ball joint was installed.

[twinsemi]

Is the ball joint tight? If it lost lube, it would try to flex and might have exceeded the fatigue limit of the arm at that spot. And if you add that to the possibility of damage as mentioned by BigRed76, bang.

[70blackfish]

if you look at the picture, on the a arm took a hit at one time, see how the end of the lip is bent, not sure if thats what caused the failure but..........you never know