Lower control arm options - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Blackpony · 08-13-2013, 11:23 PM

I took the front suspension apart today to replace the bushings and ball joints. The uppers went just fine but the lowers are a different story. It seems that after the bushings were installed some sort of machine has bent a lip over so that the bushing cannot come out. I have tried pressing them with no luck. So I am looking at just buying new ones ready to install. The best deal I have found is with rock auto but they are going to be the same price as a set of tubular aftermarket ones. What are you guys thoughts on stamped steel arms vs tubular? I am looking at the djm 3" drop arms right now but having a hard time spending that kind of cash... Any suggestions are appreciated!
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frog210 · 08-14-2013, 12:10 AM

use a drill or hammer and screwdriver and drill out the rubber or puncture the rubber, once the rubber is out you should be able to take what ever rubber is left out andthe inner sleeve also, then get a saw saw or a hand saw and cut the sleeve just enough, and get a hammer and screwdriver or cold chisel and just bend the old sleeve enought to where its falls off

bluex · 08-14-2013, 08:04 AM

^ that's exactly how I did mine. Take the chisel or punch an bend those tabs back straight first the get the rubber out an once you cut the outer sleeve an collapse it some it will fall right out....

mgchevyparts · 08-14-2013, 09:53 AM

What year is your truck? 1/2 ton?

Jonboy · 08-14-2013, 10:01 AM

I have a full set rebuilt with poly bushings painted and ready to go that need a new home. New tie rods and cleaned up 1 1/16 sway bar as well if you are interested. Looking for $400 for everything, but need to make room.

Blackpony · 08-14-2013, 01:30 PM

Truck is an 85 1/2 ton. I ordered a set of the djm tubular arms. Found them from carparts.com for $330 that includes the mounting bar..
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Blackpony · 08-14-2013, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonboy

I have a full set rebuilt with poly bushings painted and ready to go that need a new home. New tie rods and cleaned up 1 1/16 sway bar as well if you are interested. Looking for $400 for everything, but need to make room.

Man I wish I would have seen this post this morn.. I called the company and they have already shipped my new ones... Thanks for the offer though!!

Thanks for the input guys.
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tony58 · 08-14-2013, 03:53 PM

I can't find 1/2 ton lowers on Rock auto, just 3/4 ton

Blackpony · 08-14-2013, 07:10 PM

Yeah no one sells 1/2 ton new arms.. Which sucks it seems to me the 1/2 ton would be more popular..
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mgchevyparts · 08-14-2013, 09:07 PM

LMC has them for $300+ but that's too much for stock lowers. I can buy the better Moog parts around $100 and pay a shop $100 for labor to install on my arms. I already have spindles and cut springs so I can't use the lowering control arms.

bluex · 08-14-2013, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgchevyparts

LMC has them for $300+ but that's too much for stock lowers. I can buy the better Moog parts around $100 and pay a shop $100 for labor to install on my arms. I already have spindles and cut springs so I can't use the lowering control arms.

Dont pay someone $100 to do the ball joints and bushings, its easy just rent a ball joint press and do it yourself. You can knock the bushings in with a hammer and a piece of wood after putting them in the freezer for a few days...

frog210 · 08-14-2013, 09:25 PM

http://www.rockauto.com/
5071315
5071314
^^^ part numbers
There for a half ton $208, you will save $200 compared to lmc

mgchevyparts · 08-14-2013, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frog210

http://www.rockauto.com/
5071315
5071314
^^^ part numbers
There for a half ton $208, you will save $200 compared to lmc

That's $208 each

mgchevyparts · 08-14-2013, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluex

Dont pay someone $100 to do the ball joints and bushings, its easy just rent a ball joint press and do it yourself. You can knock the bushings in with a hammer and a piece of wood after putting them in the freezer for a few days...

I used that as an example for comparison. My time(value) is more then the $100 I would pay.

frog210 · 08-14-2013, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgchevyparts

That's $208 each

yea i know it will be somewhere like 420 for both arms, compared to lmc's 60+ for both arms, so you will save around 200

mgchevyparts · 08-14-2013, 09:38 PM

I think LMC was $300 pair, let me look again.

mgchevyparts · 08-14-2013, 09:41 PM

$149 each, $300+ pair, still too expensive in my opinion since I can rebuild the pair for less even paying some one else to do it.
It would be an OK price if I thought they used top quality USA ball joints but I know they're the cheapest Chinese available.

Blackpony · 08-14-2013, 10:33 PM

Oh kool I did not look at lmc or rock auto. Oh well I plan to grab a set of matching uppers sometime so ill have a cool looking and good performing set of arms.. Was hoping to get out cheap for now but ehh.

For anyone looking to buy the drop arms, carparts.com has them for a good price!! I paid less then $350 for the set shipped!
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08-13-2013, 11:23 PM	#1
Blackpony Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Aubrey, TX Posts: 308	Lower control arm options I took the front suspension apart today to replace the bushings and ball joints. The uppers went just fine but the lowers are a different story. It seems that after the bushings were installed some sort of machine has bent a lip over so that the bushing cannot come out. I have tried pressing them with no luck. So I am looking at just buying new ones ready to install. The best deal I have found is with rock auto but they are going to be the same price as a set of tubular aftermarket ones. What are you guys thoughts on stamped steel arms vs tubular? I am looking at the djm 3" drop arms right now but having a hard time spending that kind of cash... Any suggestions are appreciated! Posted via Mobile Device

08-14-2013, 12:10 AM	#2
frog210 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 784	Re: Lower control arm options use a drill or hammer and screwdriver and drill out the rubber or puncture the rubber, once the rubber is out you should be able to take what ever rubber is left out andthe inner sleeve also, then get a saw saw or a hand saw and cut the sleeve just enough, and get a hammer and screwdriver or cold chisel and just bend the old sleeve enought to where its falls off __________________ San Antonio, TEXAS -Frog -I'm a valet and well I've driven BMWs, Mercedes, Porsche,Bentlys, fiats, Hondas, etc and well even do I like a few features, I love my shortbed, it dosent bore me out, just press on the gas and you'll remember why you love it.

08-14-2013, 08:04 AM	#3
bluex Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Spartanburg, SC Posts: 1,963	Re: Lower control arm options ^ that's exactly how I did mine. Take the chisel or punch an bend those tabs back straight first the get the rubber out an once you cut the outer sleeve an collapse it some it will fall right out.... __________________ Paul '78 GMC Serria 15 Heavy Half. 361/NV3500/3.73. Former LWB NV3500 swap Trailing arm swap '98 ECSB Z71 daily driver -traded '03 burb. Family cruiser http://upstategmtrucks.com/

08-14-2013, 09:53 AM	#4
mgchevyparts Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Upland, Calif Posts: 698	Re: Lower control arm options What year is your truck? 1/2 ton? __________________ 1957 CHEVY 1/2 TON SHORT BED 1940 FORD 1/2 TON SHORT BED

08-14-2013, 10:01 AM	#5
Jonboy Slots go on anything! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 5,957	Re: Lower control arm options I have a full set rebuilt with poly bushings painted and ready to go that need a new home. New tie rods and cleaned up 1 1/16 sway bar as well if you are interested. Looking for $400 for everything, but need to make room. __________________ 1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241

08-14-2013, 01:30 PM	#6
Blackpony Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Aubrey, TX Posts: 308	Re: Lower control arm options Truck is an 85 1/2 ton. I ordered a set of the djm tubular arms. Found them from carparts.com for $330 that includes the mounting bar.. Posted via Mobile Device

08-14-2013, 03:53 PM	#8
tony58 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Orange, Calif Posts: 183	Re: Lower control arm options I can't find 1/2 ton lowers on Rock auto, just 3/4 ton

08-14-2013, 07:10 PM	#9
Blackpony Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Aubrey, TX Posts: 308	Re: Lower control arm options Yeah no one sells 1/2 ton new arms.. Which sucks it seems to me the 1/2 ton would be more popular.. Posted via Mobile Device

08-14-2013, 09:07 PM	#10
mgchevyparts Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Upland, Calif Posts: 698	Re: Lower control arm options LMC has them for $300+ but that's too much for stock lowers. I can buy the better Moog parts around $100 and pay a shop $100 for labor to install on my arms. I already have spindles and cut springs so I can't use the lowering control arms. __________________ 1957 CHEVY 1/2 TON SHORT BED 1940 FORD 1/2 TON SHORT BED

08-14-2013, 09:25 PM	#12
frog210 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 784	Re: Lower control arm options http://www.rockauto.com/ 5071315 5071314 ^^^ part numbers There for a half ton $208, you will save $200 compared to lmc __________________ San Antonio, TEXAS -Frog -I'm a valet and well I've driven BMWs, Mercedes, Porsche,Bentlys, fiats, Hondas, etc and well even do I like a few features, I love my shortbed, it dosent bore me out, just press on the gas and you'll remember why you love it.

08-14-2013, 09:38 PM	#16
mgchevyparts Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Upland, Calif Posts: 698	Re: Lower control arm options I think LMC was $300 pair, let me look again. __________________ 1957 CHEVY 1/2 TON SHORT BED 1940 FORD 1/2 TON SHORT BED

08-14-2013, 09:41 PM	#17
mgchevyparts Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Upland, Calif Posts: 698	Re: Lower control arm options $149 each, $300+ pair, still too expensive in my opinion since I can rebuild the pair for less even paying some one else to do it. It would be an OK price if I thought they used top quality USA ball joints but I know they're the cheapest Chinese available. __________________ 1957 CHEVY 1/2 TON SHORT BED 1940 FORD 1/2 TON SHORT BED

08-14-2013, 10:33 PM	#18
Blackpony Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Aubrey, TX Posts: 308	Re: Lower control arm options Oh kool I did not look at lmc or rock auto. Oh well I plan to grab a set of matching uppers sometime so ill have a cool looking and good performing set of arms.. Was hoping to get out cheap for now but ehh. For anyone looking to buy the drop arms, carparts.com has them for a good price!! I paid less then $350 for the set shipped! Posted via Mobile Device



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