I asked some advice from Chuck Stoddard and his answer was quite
simple. Spot or tack weld the head of the bolt to the control arm. I
checked with another talented person. Not GMC but Hot Rodder and he
agreed with Stoddard. If you ever have to break it loose it, the bolt
will do so easily enough, but not so easily that it will come undone on
its own, or move around and egg shape the hole.
Checking is good and recommended for all of the underside and should be
done periodically anyway. To ensure the bolt does not turn or move once
it is in place the tack weld sounds like a good idea to me! Any other
ideas?
My GMC had the entire front end done before the engine failure in 97. I
am getting ready to go to Arizona and was checking the 101 things to do
and while under the GMC. I noticed the control arm bushings looked
raggedy. I paid for the complete front end job. Ball Joints, upper and
lower control arm bushings but from the looks of things it did not look
like it had been done. The Agency that did the work is going to take
one wheel off, control arm and check it, according to one of the
mechanics it looked to him like it had not been done either.
If it had not been done then they said they would redo the work plus
give me a C note up front.
After talking with Stoddard concerning this, I feel that it is best to
inspect to see if they were done or not and if they were not. Leave
them alone if they look good and are serviceable. Just to change things
out for change is not always the best thing to do according to C.S If
the control arm bushing is working and does not need replacing then his
advice is DON'T do it. Any other ideas here? His rationale, the
original equipment in most cases is thought to be better than the
replacement bushings. I am going to have the work checked this Tuesday
and depart for Quartzite Wednesday AM. Thanks for your information on
my questions in advance. Chuck in Lompoc.
simple. Spot or tack weld the head of the bolt to the control arm. I
checked with another talented person. Not GMC but Hot Rodder and he
agreed with Stoddard. If you ever have to break it loose it, the bolt
will do so easily enough, but not so easily that it will come undone on
its own, or move around and egg shape the hole.
Checking is good and recommended for all of the underside and should be
done periodically anyway. To ensure the bolt does not turn or move once
it is in place the tack weld sounds like a good idea to me! Any other
ideas?
My GMC had the entire front end done before the engine failure in 97. I
am getting ready to go to Arizona and was checking the 101 things to do
and while under the GMC. I noticed the control arm bushings looked
raggedy. I paid for the complete front end job. Ball Joints, upper and
lower control arm bushings but from the looks of things it did not look
like it had been done. The Agency that did the work is going to take
one wheel off, control arm and check it, according to one of the
mechanics it looked to him like it had not been done either.
If it had not been done then they said they would redo the work plus
give me a C note up front.
After talking with Stoddard concerning this, I feel that it is best to
inspect to see if they were done or not and if they were not. Leave
them alone if they look good and are serviceable. Just to change things
out for change is not always the best thing to do according to C.S If
the control arm bushing is working and does not need replacing then his
advice is DON'T do it. Any other ideas here? His rationale, the
original equipment in most cases is thought to be better than the
replacement bushings. I am going to have the work checked this Tuesday
and depart for Quartzite Wednesday AM. Thanks for your information on
my questions in advance. Chuck in Lompoc.
