I installed the drivers side tubular upper control arm and this is how it went. The bushing fits nice and tight, but look at that gap between the arm and where it sits. I bought them from parts geek and it says it’s for a 67 Charger.
Would you trust this?
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Rusty knuckles
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No I wouldn't.
Pecos Bill
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Either make some bushings to tighten the gap, or get a different set
I ordered some Poly bushings. Hope this will work.
Davefinan
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It sure looks that way
I ordered some poly bushings. Hopefully I can press them in myself.
This is going downhill quick.
Can you pull the control arm back out so we can see what's actually going on
Can you pull the control arm back out so we can see what's actually going on
My new bushings should be here on Tuesday. I will post some pictures then. But the arms themselves are the same size, but on the old arms the bushing sticks out a bit. On the ones I used, not so much. Looks to me like they just use the wrong sized bushings. You know how you have a big washer on the outside of the bushing; these don't have them. I have to say though, the old bushing, it fell apart in my hand when I pulled it out. The car has not been on the road since 1984, and it shows with some stuff I'm finding.
This is what Im using. They have the washers on each end. Can these bushings be changed easily, or should I just take them to a shop?
My concern would be the new bushings are nothing like what that totally different aftermarket control arms use. Hope I'm wrong. Yes, someone that knows what to do should be involved
I did see a review and the guy says he had the same problem with them (wish I had seen this review before I bought them). He wrote he had a set of bushings and used those. If you look at the picture of the bushings, you will see there are washers on each end of the bushing, they are not there on the ones on the control arms I put in.
Road Grabber
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My recollection is that those newer bushings resemble the original ones which don't just have a washer.
It's a tube that has a washer like flange on the end and that metal tube presses into the rubber portion from the other side and when it's tightened the frame is crushed up to it so that it can't crush anymore.
The OEM bushings also have a sleeve pressed on the inside of the bushing so it can't change position.
Those bushings you have now would likely allow the arm to move and change you front end alignment.
I would suggest you tighten the eccentric adjusting bolt and nut AFTER you set the car down and get the adjustment close before sending off to an alignment shop so that the bushing isn't being twisted to start.
However, if the new bushings are poly the poly bushing might rotate once it is tightened anyways and it means nothing.
It's a tube that has a washer like flange on the end and that metal tube presses into the rubber portion from the other side and when it's tightened the frame is crushed up to it so that it can't crush anymore.
The OEM bushings also have a sleeve pressed on the inside of the bushing so it can't change position.
Those bushings you have now would likely allow the arm to move and change you front end alignment.
I would suggest you tighten the eccentric adjusting bolt and nut AFTER you set the car down and get the adjustment close before sending off to an alignment shop so that the bushing isn't being twisted to start.
However, if the new bushings are poly the poly bushing might rotate once it is tightened anyways and it means nothing.
That is correct. That tube your talking about has the bolts going thru it and its snug inside there. its not moving. I was worried about the bushing moving side to side without having those washers on each side like the original.
Road Grabber
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Even the originals can move without the sleeve pressed over the bushing from the other side.
You will need a set of four collar sleeves to press onto the new bushings as well if you really want to cover yourself.
You could place spacers/thick washers on each side to prevent them from wondering side to side if they were the right thickness. Like hardened washers. If not back to the other bushings with sleeves.
That being said there's a lot of Mopars out there without sleeves pressed behind the bushings. I put mine back on because I figure they are there for reason.
New bushing sleeves are not easy to find. Some people during bushing replacement stopped putting them back on because they break or rust off. I was lucky enough to make them on a lathe out of a large nut bored out in the center.
But you are right about the spacing. The arm can move if they are able to overcome the press fit.
Again the original bushing like those in the picture can possibly move if you don't have a collar on the opposing side to lock them into place.
Good luck with the decision
You will need a set of four collar sleeves to press onto the new bushings as well if you really want to cover yourself.
You could place spacers/thick washers on each side to prevent them from wondering side to side if they were the right thickness. Like hardened washers. If not back to the other bushings with sleeves.
That being said there's a lot of Mopars out there without sleeves pressed behind the bushings. I put mine back on because I figure they are there for reason.
New bushing sleeves are not easy to find. Some people during bushing replacement stopped putting them back on because they break or rust off. I was lucky enough to make them on a lathe out of a large nut bored out in the center.
But you are right about the spacing. The arm can move if they are able to overcome the press fit.
Again the original bushing like those in the picture can possibly move if you don't have a collar on the opposing side to lock them into place.
Good luck with the decision
jdsgtx
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Not in this lifetime
I ordered some poly graphite bushings for these control arms, but I went to and called a few places near me and no one could or wants to install them. I’m going to have to eat the $100 I paid for these at parts geek and get a different set. I will never use them again, that’s for sure.
Road Grabber
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Crazy. It's just a f'n press to install them. That sucks. If you had a big vice you could do it yourself with a piece of pipe on the back side. A harbor freight large deep socket set might even do it in a pinch. Then return it...
Tough to say without pictures of the exact setup. I have done OEM bushings with a big vice using a receiving pipe to allow the bushing inside while you press. They might push in easier than you think. Starting off nice and straight is key. It's not a long distance to press them in. It's not rocket science at all.
If there's a custom four wheeler lift shop around they might do it...
Tough to say without pictures of the exact setup. I have done OEM bushings with a big vice using a receiving pipe to allow the bushing inside while you press. They might push in easier than you think. Starting off nice and straight is key. It's not a long distance to press them in. It's not rocket science at all.
If there's a custom four wheeler lift shop around they might do it...
Ok, I just saw yesterday the eccentric bolts are also too small for these bushings as well. I'm guessing if I were to try and remove these bushings, the sleeve would have to be removed first then the actual bushing itself. It seems the bushings are a 1/4 to small and the sleeves are too big for the bolts.
Its very frustrating, but this is for everything with this car.
Send them back and get QA1 arms…
Road Grabber
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Someone is try to tell you something.
No way would I bother at this point. I would mention these design flaws and send pictures for a refund. They should refund even though you installed them. It’s their design flaw.
I wonder if they sent the wrong bushing. It’s time for customer support.
Mention the manufacturer if you haven’t in the post so nobody else makes this mistake.
Thanks for sharing. It sucks but you found out before driving the car.
No way would I bother at this point. I would mention these design flaws and send pictures for a refund. They should refund even though you installed them. It’s their design flaw.
I wonder if they sent the wrong bushing. It’s time for customer support.
Mention the manufacturer if you haven’t in the post so nobody else makes this mistake.
Thanks for sharing. It sucks but you found out before driving the car.
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