lower controlarm disassembly question

[dutch]

can the ...( no clue what it`s called...)  part that holds the TB be removed from the controlarm?  I`ve cleaned the arms and pressed out the shaft, but I`d like to take out the rest too for blasting...  looks as if the part was placed before the two halfs of the controlarm were assembled.

[hemiken]

Hey Dutch, if you are talking about the pivoting adjuster arm that the torsion bar connects to and the lower control arm.  Then yes, they can be pressed apart buddy.  This is part of what is needed to do a front end rebuild.

[Supercuda]

Sounds like you've got your control arms down to the point that you should never go past. The torsion bar socket pivots in the arm, but does not come out under normal circumstances. Just move it around so you can blast it in the hidden spots, and do the best that you can do. If it comes out, it is time for a new arm. The pivot bolt and its "nut" can be removed, and should be, for cleaning.

[hemiken]

You better post a picture to make sure of the part your talking about if possible please.

[Supercuda]

No doubt, Hemiken! I think he's talking about the t-bar socket itself, which I have NEVER seen out of a good arm. The bushing and the bolt/shaft that presses into it, can come out, but the socket shouldn't come out, in my experience. I have seen some worn-out lower arms, and the t-bar socket did come out. The arm itself wouldn't allow the car to hold an alignment, either.

[hemiken]

No doubt, Hemiken! I think he's talking about the t-bar socket itself, which I have NEVER seen out of a good arm. The bushing and the bolt/shaft that presses into it, can come out, but the socket shouldn't come out, in my experience. I have seen some worn-out lower arms, and the t-bar socket did come out. The arm itself wouldn't allow the car to hold an alignment, either.

You are dead on correct, i would like to see the part he is reffering to.  I do a mod on my lower control arms that braces the underside with a plate as the lower control arm has a tendancy to pull apart and flog out gear without it done.  I will organise a picture later and post it up of the mod.

[dutch]

here`s what I`m talking about...  sure don`t look like it can come out.  I`m blasting with steel grit so I `ve probably got some work ahead to get it clean afterwards...

[hemiken]

here`s what I`m talking about...  sure don`t look like it can come out.  I`m blasting with steel grit so I `ve probably got some work ahead to get it clean afterwards...

No it will not come out.  But see the threaded shaft.......... that comes out.

[dutch]

hemiken,

I`d like to see that mod. I`ve been thinking about something similar. The original construction of these arms does not look really stiff does it... will I run into any problems closing top and bottom? I saw several "stiffening kits" on ebay in the past but if I remember correctly, they were all for boxing the sides instead of top and bottom    seems to me top and bottom would be way more effective  

the shaft is out. no sweat there...

[hemiken]

Hey Dutch,

Here is that mod i was talking about for the lower control arm.  They do try to spread apart under load, it is amazing to watch them do this, power steer cars are the worst for doing it.

[dutch]

thanks mate,
that`s what I meant.  just remembered the top side is already connected by the mounting plate for that rubber.
thanks for the pics, and thank you both for the replies 

[hemiken]

Anytime buddy. i used 3 mm plate and put the holes in with a hole saw to let the dirt and crap out, just to stop it from catching a build up of debris mainly.

[Supercuda]

My years as a mechanic should count for something! Glad to help out, and the mods on Hemiken's arms are exactly the kind of stiffening that we need on highly-stressed lower arms. The holes also serve to keep the unsprung weight down, another benefit of cutting the plates in this way.