Where do I buy the torsion bar socket "rings"?

[shadango]

Sprecks sent me an AWESOME looking LCA for the passenger side...got it today.   

But I THINK I still need to order a couple of parts....

Where do I get the rings (pressed on?) that are on either side of the torsion bar socket? (my old one is the cruddy looking one...LOL)





I assume they are pressed on?  Looking at my old LCA, those rings look like they are SOLID on there so rather than fight them i would just rather buy new ones if they are affordable.

Are they important? I noticed the "socket" wiggles a little more, but not much, than the old one....

I just want to get the thing on so I can get this beast back on the road!   

Thanks guys, and thanks Sprecks...the bead blasting you did on it made the thing look brand new!   

[Bullitt-]

May be a year thing...my '73 has no rings   

[Chryco Psycho]

that is the outer shell of the bushing , you would need to install a bushing & then distroy it & remove the inner sleeve & rubber bushing if you are using poly bushings or just use it with the rubber bushhing & press the pin into it

[shadango]

I dont think its part of the bushing.

The ring I am talking about is very think and almost seems to be part of the LCA itself....

I pulled the outer shells of the bushings out of my LCAs and this is definately different....

Almost like they are reinforcements.....built in to the LCA

[dodj]

I would just use the replacement LCA as it is - I have no extra ring on mine and they have held up a 440 for over 10 years.

[shadango]

So yours is a 73 too, right?

So far thats two 73s without rings.

[dodj]

Yes it is.

[shadango]

that is the outer shell of the bushing , you would need to install a bushing & then distroy it & remove the inner sleeve & rubber bushing if you are using poly bushings or just use it with the rubber bushhing & press the pin into it

ChrycoPsycho,
I looked closer at the pic and see what you re looking at....the dirty looking one still has its bushing sleeve in there as well...

What I am talking about is the ring you see at the base, where the socket meets the side of the LCA.....easier to see in the picture of the hex side....

[shadango]

Found a real interesting site/document about e bodies here....

http://books.google.com/books?id=FNfbubrQXC4C&pg=PA123&lpg=PA123&dq=1973+challenger+lower+control+arm&source=bl&ots=14eUrKM-vL&sig=5rmhK1IHhUGM3woYKFzOEsD4zc0&hl=en&ei=vcSDS8SQFZTBlAf99qjmAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CDYQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Page 123 says that the part numbers for the LCAs were thesame 70-72....then changed in 73......but doesnt say how....then , on the mopar action site for changing bushings, it shows a LCA with no rings, but it doesnt say what vehicle it is from.

Could this possibly be an "a body" LCA?


Hmmmm.

[PlumCrazyChris]

Definately not an Abody LCA.  I've seen them both ways, and there is a thread on there or Moparts that discusses this. 

I think it said that the rings are just pressed on and can come off when you change the bushings, and then just don't get put back on. 

I suppose you could just find some pipe to fit and cut whatever width you desire, then spot weld the in place.  It sure looks like it would give you more rigidity with them.  I doubt you'd be able to tell from the seat of your pants though.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

looks like a different stamping , there should be BJ stamped into the steel arm

[shadango]

I think it said that the rings are just pressed on and can come off when you change the bushings, and then just don't get put back on. 

I think you are thinking of the collars that fit on the UCA bushings? I saw that thread too..in fact i had that very issue there...

The more I look at the LCA, the more it seems like these rings are actually part of the LAC itself....stamped in.

[shadango]

Ok....got some more info.

I got a hold of Rick Ehrenberg and Ray Costello from CAP Auto products (he engineers/sells the cool dynamic strut rods and all sorts of other suspension parts for our rides).

Rick said  "  Actually, I though the non-flanged design was earlier, not later. At any rate, they are 100% interchangeable, and any "slop" will totally disappear once installed and loaded."

And Ray told me over the phone that the early ones were like what I have...then the Chrysler enginers decided that the LCA was a wear item and that the added flanges would help slow down the wear so they added it to the heavier cars. He said that a lot of those were replaced back in the day when they were probably just fine. He said that all I need to do is clamp the end together some where the pivot goes thru, and then weld a strap across to tighten up the joint a little (a suggestion autoxcuda made in my "toast" thread for my original bent old one) and with that and the lower plate I am putting on it will be like new....Now, he could have easier said "it is scrap, you need a new one...and by the way, I sell new ones." but didnt so....

Between everything you guys have thrown out there plus this, I gotta believe I am ok.     Big sigh of relief.

[shadango]

Well, added the strap at the end after clamping it together and it deifnately made a huge difference.   

Got the strap, the reinforcing plate and the sway bar bracket all welded on. Tomorrow, cleanup/grinding (kids are in bed) and paint I hope......

Thanks again, everyone, for all the advice and support....

And sprecks, expect some cash in your email soon!