control arm shafts

[2lbox]

Does anybody know what could be the cause of them bending. I am replacing the front suspension and realized that both upper and lower are bent a bit. I do not want to just replace them and have them bend again. About a year ago I drove the car into a hole in the road and broke the control arm but this was on the drivers side. I have all four of the cros shafts bent the uppers a bit less but still you could notice the bend. Any help is greatly appreciated

[slofut]

Originally Posted by 2lbox

Does anybody know what could be the cause of them bending. I am replacing the front suspension and realized that both upper and lower are bent a bit. I do not want to just replace them and have them bend again. About a year ago I drove the car into a hole in the road and broke the control arm but this was on the drivers side. I have all four of the cros shafts bent the uppers a bit less but still you could notice the bend. Any help is greatly appreciated

My passenger side upper and lower was bent but obviously from an accident. Not a hard hit either. Looks like they may be fairly easy to bend and on yours I suspect a bump on both sides at some time. Hit a curb hard etc... If they're that noticeably bent be sure to clean off the mounting brackets down to bare metal using brake cleaner and a wire toothbrush and check carefully for cracks, they're hard to see. Check pics on my threads.
Bill

[2lbox]

Originally Posted by slofut

My passenger side upper and lower was bent but obviously from an accident. Not a hard hit either. Looks like they may be fairly easy to bend and on yours I suspect a bump on both sides at some time. Hit a curb hard etc... If they're that noticeably bent be sure to clean off the mounting brackets down to bare metal using brake cleaner and a wire toothbrush and check carefully for cracks, they're hard to see. Check pics on my threads.
Bill

I made sure that the control arms are crack free thanks for pointing that out though. My problem right now is that all of the shafts are bent driver upper and lower pass upper and lower, upper not that much but I can see they are bent. I want to make sure that is just a matter of changing them. Where is Your thread located? what is the title? Thanks

[iburke]

Could we see some pictures of where they are bent and what the mounts look like?

[2lbox]

Originally Posted by iburke

Could we see some pictures of where they are bent and what the mounts look like?

Sure:


They are both bent the same, these are the botton ones only
The bent in the upper ones is a bit less.

[slofut]

Originally Posted by 2lbox

I made sure that the control arms are crack free thanks for pointing that out though. My problem right now is that all of the shafts are bent driver upper and lower pass upper and lower, upper not that much but I can see they are bent. I want to make sure that is just a matter of changing them. Where is Your thread located? what is the title? Thanks

I'm talking more about the control arm mounts on your frame and areas around the mounts that develop hairline cracks from stress.

Some of the control arm mount pics are on here:
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...d.php?t=164292
Look about half way down the first page. These are pics of the right hand lower mount showing where it had been welded up from a past accident.
Thing is the bent shafts, I think, caused other stresses on the mount and frame which caused other cracks on the front crossmember near the mounts. So check your frame carefully.

Other pics are here...
http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/c...cpZZ4QQtppZZ28

[2lbox]

Originally Posted by slofut

I'm talking more about the control arm mounts on your frame and areas around the mounts that develop hairline cracks from stress.

Some of the control arm mount pics are on here:
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...d.php?t=164292
Look about half way down the first page. These are pics of the right hand lower mount showing where it had been welded up from a past accident.
Thing is the bent shafts, I think, caused other stresses on the mount and frame which caused other cracks on the front crossmember near the mounts. So check your frame carefully.

Other pics are here...
http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/c...cpZZ4QQtppZZ28

Wow we almost have had the same isues with our cars. I Took a different aproach with the mounts and welded them and gaseted them. I'll try and post pics. Thanks

[2lbox]

Originally Posted by iburke

Could we see some pictures of where they are bent and what the mounts look like?

This is a pic of one of the mounts

[slofut]

Originally Posted by 2lbox

This is a pic of one of the mounts

Ouch! That welded crack across the mount looks hauntingly familiar!

[2lbox]

Originally Posted by slofut

Ouch! That welded crack across the mount looks hauntingly familiar!

Told You we had almost the same problem with that contrtol arm mount! i know You did the right thing and fixed it the right way. Me on the other hand am hoping that my fix is enough to hold it together for a couple of more years. I wish I had done what You did but it is to envolved and I do not think I have the skills to do it. I'll keep an eye on it thoug and hope for the best. Thanks for the pics... At least I know how I should have fixed it.