Look at this crap!!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**swervin ervin** · 09-24-2003, 03:51 PM

Today I was driving to the store in the 85 for a few things and when I hit the brakes, it pulled to the right, hard. I drive on and on the way back I decide to try it and see what's wrong. It still pulls badly. When I pull in the drive, it pops. I go into the garage and proceed to jack it up to see what the hell is wrong now, thinking it's brakes. Nothing looks wrong until I happen to look up at the upper control arm. Below is what about floored me.

These bolts are knurled and a press in fit. I ordered two new ones from the dealer. Damn, I just about had a bad situation, for sure. Scares me to even think about it.

Prerunner1982 · 09-24-2003, 03:59 PM

mike glad things werent worse, looks like it could have turned out horribly. i think the lord was with you. hope you werent going fast when this happened...

Low87 · 09-24-2003, 04:06 PM

Geez! Good thing you made it home in one piece!

82 Silverado 4X · 09-24-2003, 04:18 PM

Ouch!!
Glad to see you made it home without anymore damage to the truck or more importantly yourself.
BTW: Did you try to check out the other side to see if they were starting to crack also?

LOHRTBT · 09-24-2003, 04:52 PM

Holy Crap!!
Dayum, If you had been at highway speeds that could have turned ugly realllly quick!

Good thing you caught that.
While your at it , do some painting and cleaning on that pig!! lol

**swervin ervin** · 09-24-2003, 05:31 PM

That's the scarey part of this. On the way home I was driving as fast as I always do, probably 60-70 mph.

And as far as painting, I had it clean and painted at one time. I drive it a lot and it's just dirty. With all the rain we had here this summer, it was a loosing battle trying to keep it clean.

After thinking about the control arm deal some more, I believe I know when it may have broke. Yesterday, I was pulling into a drive of a new house being built down the road from me. They had the drive graded at the road so water wouldn't run across the highway. I turned it too fast and bottomed out on the control arm. I think it may have broke the bolt. Only thing I can thing of. I drove straight home from there and didn't feel anything, but I guess it hadn't loosened up yet. Then today, I guess is when it came loose or finished breaking.

Word. Don't bottom out on the control arm. It may break the bolts.

**N2TRUX** · 09-24-2003, 06:36 PM

Mike, WOW!

That is scary.

I wonder if maybe the nuts were already loose? I ran across that on the recent detail job on my 77. I noticed the shims were all crooked. You know that bugged me, so instinctively I reached up to see if I could straighten them. To my surprise, I could line them back up by hand.

I was able to get 2-3 or more turns on every oner of the nuts. I guess the guys at the alignment shop "forgot" to cinch them down after they got through. It's a good thing I'm so picky, or I may have been in the same boat as you some day.

Next time I get a chance to speak to the alignment shop, I am going to have something for the tech that worked on my truck...

brad2 · 09-24-2003, 07:27 PM

Two things to remember:
1) your truck is not the General Lee
2) your not Bo Duke

:p :p

**N2TRUX** · 09-24-2003, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brad2
Two things to remember:
1) your truck is not the General Lee
2) your not Bo Duke

chasrug · 09-24-2003, 08:04 PM

Now I know why you're called "swervin" ervin, lol

low 84 · 09-24-2003, 08:10 PM

i wouldn't be suprised if whoever did your alignment used an impact with a u-joint on it to tighten those up. mabey got a little carried away with the impact gun.

*1FaastC10* · 09-24-2003, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brad2
Two things to remember:
1) your truck is not the General Lee
2) your not Bo Duke

:p :p

you forgot one...

3) hood slides scratch paint

gchemist · 09-25-2003, 11:20 AM

I better check my shorts!!!

I guess I better slow down around corners too.

After seeing that I'm going to replace those bolts when I rebuild the front end.

Thanks for the heads up Mike. Keep on truck'n.

**swervin ervin** · 09-25-2003, 02:47 PM

Got everything back together. I went ahead and put new bolts on the drivers side while I was at it. Didn't really need them, but saftey comes first.

Anyone who wants to replace these, the part number for 1/2 tons is 6263840. I also bought new lock nuts. They are 1/2x20. I used nylon lock nuts from the hardware store.

BTW, GM likes the bolts. $3.42 each.

Krosati · 09-25-2003, 04:37 PM

It looks like your bushings are not fully pressed in either. Better have a talk with the guy who replaced them.

Slonaker · 09-25-2003, 04:46 PM

I think he would be talking to himself.

From his website:

http://www.73-87.com/garage/frontend.htm

Slonaker

79BIG10 · 09-25-2003, 06:41 PM

Glad to see it didn't do any worse damage Mike.

Also thanks for the heads up on the bolts part numbers. How did you get the new ones in and the old ones out? I'll replace them as well when I get the front end done (still getting parts together).

Ric83 · 09-25-2003, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by swervin ervin
Got everything back together. I went ahead and put new bolts on the drivers side while I was at it. Didn't really need them, but saftey comes first.

Well, better safe than sorry. Good thing nothing else happened and you have it taken care of.

phantom dually · 09-25-2003, 09:32 PM

You can take a small sledge 5# and drive them out. When you put them back in torque them down TIGHT and they will pull themselves in the right amount.

low 84 · 09-26-2003, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Krosati
It looks like your bushings are not fully pressed in either. Better have a talk with the guy who replaced them.

those bushings are fully pressed in. the upper ones don't press in flush like the lowers. they are grooved and they just press in until the control arm hits that groove.

Mike76251 · 09-27-2003, 05:35 AM

Those lock nuts from GM are high because they are a "special" metal lock nut. That price is not too bad if you price them at a bolt house.
Nylons cannot take any heat or they fail (The nylon melts). I avoid using nylons if I can help it on a car.

*1FaastC10* · 09-27-2003, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike76251
Those lock nuts from GM are high because they are a "special" metal lock nut. That price is not too bad if you price them at a bolt house.
Nylons cannot take any heat or they fail (The nylon melts). I avoid using nylons if I can help it on a car.

and we all know that upper control arm pivot shafts are definitely high heat.

jks67ss396 · 08-07-2013, 01:33 PM

Bringing this back from the dead. Does anyone remember what happened? Cant see pics anymore. Sounds like the serrated control arm bolt broke?

Malo83 · 08-07-2013, 02:56 PM

Not trying to hijack but, how's Swerve doing?

kjc292 · 08-07-2013, 03:17 PM

is this post from mike slonaker?

09-24-2003, 03:51 PM	#1
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Look at this crap!!! Today I was driving to the store in the 85 for a few things and when I hit the brakes, it pulled to the right, hard. I drive on and on the way back I decide to try it and see what's wrong. It still pulls badly. When I pull in the drive, it pops. I go into the garage and proceed to jack it up to see what the hell is wrong now, thinking it's brakes. Nothing looks wrong until I happen to look up at the upper control arm. Below is what about floored me. These bolts are knurled and a press in fit. I ordered two new ones from the dealer. Damn, I just about had a bad situation, for sure. Scares me to even think about it. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

09-24-2003, 03:59 PM	#2
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,904	mike glad things werent worse, looks like it could have turned out horribly. i think the lord was with you. hope you werent going fast when this happened... __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

09-24-2003, 04:06 PM	#3
Low87 been here longer than Liz Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 2,437	Geez! Good thing you made it home in one piece! __________________ ~Greg~ Mac's Garage '87 SWB 6/8 drop "Piso" '08 CCSB Silverado DD the departed '89 GMC K5 Jimmy 4x4 "Rusty Nuts" '77 Chevy K5 Blazer 2wd '83 Chevy stepside "You get what you pay for" - Mike 'swervin ervin' Ervin

09-24-2003, 04:18 PM	#4
82 Silverado 4X Genuine Chevrolet Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South West Pennsylvania. Posts: 582	Ouch!! Glad to see you made it home without anymore damage to the truck or more importantly yourself. BTW: Did you try to check out the other side to see if they were starting to crack also? __________________ George 82 Silverado LWB 4x4 350 SM465 NP208 77 Chevrolet Blazer Chalet 400 TH350 NP203

09-24-2003, 04:52 PM	#5
LOHRTBT BeWarE tHe eViL CrAnkTOe! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Yukon, OK Posts: 3,605	Holy Crap!! Dayum, If you had been at highway speeds that could have turned ugly realllly quick! Good thing you caught that. While your at it , do some painting and cleaning on that pig!! lol __________________ ~Dave~ You can call me Mike, Mike Oxlong - 1986 Chevy SWB - Stock for now - *1986 Chevy Custom SWB* *Stolen 6/26/05* - 1985 Chevy SWB SOLD - 1999 T/A Some mods www.cardomain.com/id/ramairdave AIM Screenname - Jester84

09-24-2003, 05:31 PM	#6
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	That's the scarey part of this. On the way home I was driving as fast as I always do, probably 60-70 mph. And as far as painting, I had it clean and painted at one time. I drive it a lot and it's just dirty. With all the rain we had here this summer, it was a loosing battle trying to keep it clean. After thinking about the control arm deal some more, I believe I know when it may have broke. Yesterday, I was pulling into a drive of a new house being built down the road from me. They had the drive graded at the road so water wouldn't run across the highway. I turned it too fast and bottomed out on the control arm. I think it may have broke the bolt. Only thing I can thing of. I drove straight home from there and didn't feel anything, but I guess it hadn't loosened up yet. Then today, I guess is when it came loose or finished breaking. Word. Don't bottom out on the control arm. It may break the bolts. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

09-24-2003, 06:36 PM	#7
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Mike, WOW! That is scary. I wonder if maybe the nuts were already loose? I ran across that on the recent detail job on my 77. I noticed the shims were all crooked. You know that bugged me, so instinctively I reached up to see if I could straighten them. To my surprise, I could line them back up by hand. I was able to get 2-3 or more turns on every oner of the nuts. I guess the guys at the alignment shop "forgot" to cinch them down after they got through. It's a good thing I'm so picky, or I may have been in the same boat as you some day. Next time I get a chance to speak to the alignment shop, I am going to have something for the tech that worked on my truck... __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

09-24-2003, 07:27 PM	#8
brad2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: edmond, ok Posts: 1,056	Two things to remember: 1) your truck is not the General Lee 2) your not Bo Duke :p :p __________________ 74 swb 71 2wd Jimmy 82 2wd Blazer

09-24-2003, 08:04 PM	#10
chasrug Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: crofton,MD Posts: 1	close call Now I know why you're called "swervin" ervin, lol

09-24-2003, 08:10 PM	#11
low 84 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,144	i wouldn't be suprised if whoever did your alignment used an impact with a u-joint on it to tighten those up. mabey got a little carried away with the impact gun. __________________ '51 F100, backhalf with a narrowed 9 and coil overs, 18.5" mickeys, monte front clip, +400" sbc in the works '05 1500 Crew Cab RIP '84 swb 5/7 drop, solid cammed 408 w/ fully ported dart heads, th350 w/ 10 inch hughes, 12 bolt w/ 3.73 richmonds and a locker '80 swb 4x4 in progress: 7" lift, 350 th350/np205, d44 and 1.5" ORD tie rod, 14BFF w/discs , armored diff covers, 40" MTR's

09-25-2003, 11:20 AM	#13
gchemist BAD BOW-Silverado XST Join Date: May 2000 Location: Senior Member from Austin, TX Posts: 6,431	I better check my shorts!!! I guess I better slow down around corners too. After seeing that I'm going to replace those bolts when I rebuild the front end. Thanks for the heads up Mike. Keep on truck'n. __________________ Gerardo a.k.a. Mad Chemist Silverado XST videos

09-25-2003, 02:47 PM	#14
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Got everything back together. I went ahead and put new bolts on the drivers side while I was at it. Didn't really need them, but saftey comes first. Anyone who wants to replace these, the part number for 1/2 tons is 6263840. I also bought new lock nuts. They are 1/2x20. I used nylon lock nuts from the hardware store. BTW, GM likes the bolts. $3.42 each. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

09-25-2003, 04:37 PM	#15
Krosati Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 49	It looks like your bushings are not fully pressed in either. Better have a talk with the guy who replaced them.

09-25-2003, 04:46 PM	#16
Slonaker Insert Witty Text Here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,415	I think he would be talking to himself. From his website: http://www.73-87.com/garage/frontend.htm Slonaker __________________ '86 Chevy C10 (Sold 04/19/13 ) Stock '01 Silverado

09-25-2003, 06:41 PM	#17
79BIG10 I'm back with 2nd truck! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,774	Glad to see it didn't do any worse damage Mike. Also thanks for the heads up on the bolts part numbers. How did you get the new ones in and the old ones out? I'll replace them as well when I get the front end done (still getting parts together). __________________ 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson



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09-25-2003, 09:32 PM	#19
phantom dually Project92 SWB stepside Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 4,792	You can take a small sledge 5# and drive them out. When you put them back in torque them down TIGHT and they will pull themselves in the right amount. __________________ 92 C1500 stepside 496 Stroker Competiton Engineering Ladder bars/QA1 coilovers. Dana 60 rear with 4.10 gear and posi. Bonspeed Palisade 20x12 in rear w/335/30/20 and 20x8.5 front w/245/40/20. 5/8 drop with Belltech springs/DJM spindles/drop shocks. WWS Progress thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=140448

09-27-2003, 05:35 AM	#21
Mike76251 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,499	Those lock nuts from GM are high because they are a "special" metal lock nut. That price is not too bad if you price them at a bolt house. Nylons cannot take any heat or they fail (The nylon melts). I avoid using nylons if I can help it on a car.

08-07-2013, 01:33 PM	#23
jks67ss396 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 298	Re: Look at this crap!!! Bringing this back from the dead. Does anyone remember what happened? Cant see pics anymore. Sounds like the serrated control arm bolt broke?

08-07-2013, 02:56 PM	#24
Malo83 Cruzzzn' Vet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Porterville,Ca. Posts: 1,918	Re: Look at this crap!!! Not trying to hijack but, how's Swerve doing?

08-07-2013, 03:17 PM	#25
kjc292 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Oregon Posts: 89	Re: Look at this crap!!! is this post from mike slonaker? __________________ 79' c20 std cab 292 3speed granny - daily driver. 77' c30 std cab 454 th400 4.10 - fathers truck then mine. 95' ford bronco 302 4speed overdrive. 2002 mustang auto v6 - girlfriends daily driver. Debt just means that you had more fun than you're suppose to have

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