Help!! Lower control arm bushings - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**tdangle** · 11-27-2021, 02:40 PM

working on my 1970 3/4 ton. Removed the lower control arm shafts and bushings as there was some play. Can not get the new ones installed. Factory manual says to insert shaft into the LCA and thread the bushings in and torque. Bushings don't seem to want to start in the LCA. Since the torque specs for replacements is 125 foot pounds, I would think they should go in fairly easy. The video I watched showed them going in easy. I've compared to the old ones and they seem correct. Am I missing something??

**HO455** · 11-27-2021, 03:21 PM

This thread helped me install mine and get them torqued properly.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=508095

**Wrenchbender Ret** · 11-27-2021, 05:18 PM

Forget torque. Keep screwing them in till the hex contacts the a arm. There is a lot of variation in the make of replacements & control arms. Make sure you keep the shaft centered so one end won't bottom out.
George

**tdangle** · 11-27-2021, 05:44 PM

The problem I'm having is I can't get the end caps in. they will go about 1/2 in the LCA and then no more the shaft is still centered and is frozen won't turn. Using a long breaker bar, an impact wrench just no go. The impact wrench removed the old ones easily.

an understanding of how this assembly works would help. From looking at it it seems as if the "end caps" aka bushings more or less are a pressed fit in the LCA and the shaft rotates on the inner threads. The final torque is the 2 bushing end caps pulling on each other.

**pjmoreland** · 11-27-2021, 09:23 PM

The end caps/bushings have internal and external threads that must be threaded onto the shaft and into the LCA simultaneously. Both end caps have to be threaded onto the shaft evenly on both sides so the shaft is centered between the caps. Once assembled, the shaft is able to spin because it rides on the threads in the caps. On my truck, one of my LCAs was bent, probably from striking a curb during parking at some point before I got it. The cap did not want to thread straight into the LCA because of this. I had to acquire a replacement LCA. Does it look like the cap is threading straight into the hole in the LCA? It would be easy to cross thread since the threads on the outside of the cap are shallow.

**tdangle** · 11-27-2021, 10:00 PM

I got it put together.

Put the LCA in a vise and used a 3' piece of pipe on my breaker bar. turned each side in 1/4 to 1/2 turn alternating between sides. Seems to be working. Now to finish assembling the front end. Then on to finish the disc brake conversion. Hopefully I'm on the downside.

**HO455** · 11-28-2021, 01:33 PM

When you're done you should be able clamp the shaft in the vice and rotate the control arm on it. It can be stiff but not stuck or locked.
Good work on figuring it out. It is a repair process that is slowly disappearing in the sands of time.

**tdangle** · 12-01-2021, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HO455

When you're done you should be able clamp the shaft in the vice and rotate the control arm on it. It can be stiff but not stuck or locked.
Good work on figuring it out. It is a repair process that is slowly disappearing in the sands of time.

Yes I have new respect for people that can and do rebuild old school steering/suspensions.

11-27-2021, 02:40 PM	#1
tdangle Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jurupa Valley, Ca Posts: 1,209	Help!! Lower control arm bushings working on my 1970 3/4 ton. Removed the lower control arm shafts and bushings as there was some play. Can not get the new ones installed. Factory manual says to insert shaft into the LCA and thread the bushings in and torque. Bushings don't seem to want to start in the LCA. Since the torque specs for replacements is 125 foot pounds, I would think they should go in fairly easy. The video I watched showed them going in easy. I've compared to the old ones and they seem correct. Am I missing something?? __________________ Terry 1970 Custom Camper/C20 , GM Crate 350/7004R, Dana 60, factory AC

11-27-2021, 03:21 PM	#2
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 10,786	Re: Help!! Lower control arm bushings This thread helped me install mine and get them torqued properly. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=508095 __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban the WMB,1991 S(stink)-10 Blazer,1969 GTO, 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird. 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

11-27-2021, 05:18 PM	#3
Wrenchbender Ret Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Overland Park, Ks. Posts: 5,190	Re: Help!! Lower control arm bushings Forget torque. Keep screwing them in till the hex contacts the a arm. There is a lot of variation in the make of replacements & control arms. Make sure you keep the shaft centered so one end won't bottom out. George

11-27-2021, 05:44 PM	#4
tdangle Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jurupa Valley, Ca Posts: 1,209	Re: Help!! Lower control arm bushings The problem I'm having is I can't get the end caps in. they will go about 1/2 in the LCA and then no more the shaft is still centered and is frozen won't turn. Using a long breaker bar, an impact wrench just no go. The impact wrench removed the old ones easily. an understanding of how this assembly works would help. From looking at it it seems as if the "end caps" aka bushings more or less are a pressed fit in the LCA and the shaft rotates on the inner threads. The final torque is the 2 bushing end caps pulling on each other. __________________ Terry 1970 Custom Camper/C20 , GM Crate 350/7004R, Dana 60, factory AC

11-27-2021, 09:23 PM	#5
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,303	Re: Help!! Lower control arm bushings The end caps/bushings have internal and external threads that must be threaded onto the shaft and into the LCA simultaneously. Both end caps have to be threaded onto the shaft evenly on both sides so the shaft is centered between the caps. Once assembled, the shaft is able to spin because it rides on the threads in the caps. On my truck, one of my LCAs was bent, probably from striking a curb during parking at some point before I got it. The cap did not want to thread straight into the LCA because of this. I had to acquire a replacement LCA. Does it look like the cap is threading straight into the hole in the LCA? It would be easy to cross thread since the threads on the outside of the cap are shallow.

11-27-2021, 10:00 PM	#6
tdangle Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jurupa Valley, Ca Posts: 1,209	Re: Help!! Lower control arm bushings I got it put together. Put the LCA in a vise and used a 3' piece of pipe on my breaker bar. turned each side in 1/4 to 1/2 turn alternating between sides. Seems to be working. Now to finish assembling the front end. Then on to finish the disc brake conversion. Hopefully I'm on the downside. __________________ Terry 1970 Custom Camper/C20 , GM Crate 350/7004R, Dana 60, factory AC

11-28-2021, 01:33 PM	#7
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 10,786	Re: Help!! Lower control arm bushings When you're done you should be able clamp the shaft in the vice and rotate the control arm on it. It can be stiff but not stuck or locked. Good work on figuring it out. It is a repair process that is slowly disappearing in the sands of time. __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban the WMB,1991 S(stink)-10 Blazer,1969 GTO, 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird. 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377



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