lower control arms

[thomas g. warner]

Gene I would have a problem with your statement to drill out the holes for
larger bolts. That would involve also drilling the holes in the balljoint
and may weaken them and that would not be wise. The bolts that come with
the ball joints are strucuturally strong enough if the old rivets are
drilled out correctly. At least that is my experience. Use the appropriate
thread locker on the bolts and save yourself a lot of frustration.

>-- [ From: Eugene Fisher * EMC.Ver #2.5.3 ] --
>
>While I was traveling around, I visited two GMC shops to ask questions.
>I got the following about lower control arms.
>
>Upper ball joints seldom need replacing
>Don't replace ball joints unless you really have to
>Only the arms with replaced ball joints crack
>The bolts that replace the rivets get loose and ball joint moves
>Tighten the bolts all the time
>The bolts that come with replacement ball joints are too small -- drill
>out to larger bolts
>Shops replace arms with reinforced toronado arms
>Reinforcing varies from "just what GMC did" to parts all over the place
>Arms usually fail in parking lot making a tight turn--lots of side
>pressure on arm
>Some people are getting by with welded repairs to the arms
>
>gene
>
>
>
>--
>Gene 76Palm Beach /Or/CA
>
>GMC Technical Information http://www.california.com/~eagle/
>--
>Gene 76Palm Beach /Or/CA
>
>GMC Technical Information
>http://www.california.com/~eagle/
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach

 

[thomas g. warner]

What was the part number of the Moog ball joint? does not sound right.

>In a message dated 3/26/99 6:35:03 AM Pacific Standard Time,

>
> for larger bolts. That would involve also drilling the holes in the
> balljoint and may weaken them and that would not be wise. The bolts
> that come with the ball joints are strucuturally strong enough if the
> old rivets are drilled out correctly. At least that is my experience.
> Use the appropriate thread locker on the bolts and save yourself a lot
> of frustration. >>
>
>Thomas, I drilled out the rivets very carefully on the passenger side lower
>control arm and when I sized the new Moog ball joint, the holes didn't match
>exactly. With the top bolt tight and one of the side bolt also tight, I
>enlarged the oposite side to 3/8".
>Using a grade 8 3/8" bolt, I tightened that side. Removed the bolt from
>oposite side (5/16") and enlarged the hole to 3/8" and used another grade 8
>3/8" bolt.
>One more thing, the holes on the Moog ball joint were 11/32" so I only
>enlarged the hole by 1/32". Like Arch says, thats what I did.
>
>Manny 73 Custom/ex-Glacier
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach

 

[patrick flowers]

Tom,

That's how the lower ball joints were that I installed also. They were
Moogs that I purchased from Jim Bounds. IMO, the bolts were a little
"sloppy" in the holes, but I thought, "they're Moogs, they must be
right". After listening to stories of lower control arms
"self-destructing" at Myrtle Beach and some of the stories here, I'm
gonna' ream mine out 1/32" too.

Patrick

>
> What was the part number of the Moog ball joint? does not sound right.
>

> >One more thing, the holes on the Moog ball joint were 11/32" so I only
> >enlarged the hole by 1/32". Like Arch says, thats what I did.
> >
> >Manny 73 Custom/ex-Glacier
> >
> >
> Tom & Marg Warner
> Vernon Center NY
> 1976 palmbeach

- --
Patrick Flowers
Mailtoatrick

The GMC Motorhome Page
http://www.gmcmotorhome.com

 

[thomas g. warner]

Still would like to know what the moog number off the ball joint was.

>Tom,
>
>That's how the lower ball joints were that I installed also. They were
>Moogs that I purchased from Jim Bounds. IMO, the bolts were a little
>"sloppy" in the holes, but I thought, "they're Moogs, they must be
>right". After listening to stories of lower control arms
>"self-destructing" at Myrtle Beach and some of the stories here, I'm
>gonna' ream mine out 1/32" too.
>
>Patrick
>

>>
>> What was the part number of the Moog ball joint? does not sound right.
>>

>
>> >One more thing, the holes on the Moog ball joint were 11/32" so I only
>> >enlarged the hole by 1/32". Like Arch says, thats what I did.
>> >
>> >Manny 73 Custom/ex-Glacier
>> >
>> >
>> Tom & Marg Warner
>> Vernon Center NY
>> 1976 palmbeach
>
>--
>Patrick Flowers
>Mailtoatrick
>
>The GMC Motorhome Page
>http://www.gmcmotorhome.com
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach

 

[thomas g. warner]

Same number that I have. Will be interesting to see if I have the same
problem that you had. thanks

>In a message dated 3/27/99 9:49:22 PM Pacific Standard Time, warner
>writes:
>
>>
>
>Copying right off the box K6215
>
>Manny 73 Custom/ex-Glacier
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach