Check out my busted A-arm
03-10-2008 | 06:22 PM
#21
You aren't supposed to burn the bushing out but its the only way I have ever been able to do it.
Ppl say that burning the bushings out makes the a arm loose its heat treat. I have done it on several cars and not seen a failure.
I don't think the bushing install is at fault. Or if it is at fault, only partially.
Ppl say that burning the bushings out makes the a arm loose its heat treat. I have done it on several cars and not seen a failure.
I don't think the bushing install is at fault. Or if it is at fault, only partially.
03-10-2008 | 06:36 PM
#22
Yeah, when I did the upper A-arms I actually tried to do it the right way w/ a press but all the press did was rip out the center sleeve from the rubber and I still had to burn the rest of the rubber out.
03-26-2008 | 02:23 PM
#28
Yep, I am definitely lucky. I can just envision what would happen, entire left front wheel, hub, brake, etc. collapsing into the wheel well, Darrell Waltrip screaming over the mic, "Riffel's just lost something----OHHHHH! He's in the wall! Riffel's in the wall!! The season's over for him! Ahhhh, what a tough break!" Boogity Boogity Boogity! 
I don't know that tubular would be the best way to go on a daily driver. Anyone got any experience w/ them as far as durability goes? I need to keep this car reliable for one more year while the wife's in school. I don't plan on getting rid of this car - it will be a sunny day driver and turn into a restoration/clean-up/hot rod project once it's out of commission as a daily.
I don't know that tubular would be the best way to go on a daily driver. Anyone got any experience w/ them as far as durability goes? I need to keep this car reliable for one more year while the wife's in school. I don't plan on getting rid of this car - it will be a sunny day driver and turn into a restoration/clean-up/hot rod project once it's out of commission as a daily.
03-27-2008 | 01:06 AM
#32
my guess is that when you had to...."persuade"......the a-arm back into position when you replaced the bushings, that along with the heating of the a-arm weakened it enough to make a hairline crack that just gradually got worse over time, until it got the way it is now.
03-27-2008 | 01:09 AM
#33
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: College Station, TX
Sounds like you didn't paint over the bare steel you exposed with the hammer... Daily Driver gets wet... 5 or 6 years of rust and snap.
I know you live in Abq (used to live there and I know it's dry) and I don't know how often your car gets wet, but it's a theory.
I just finished a suspension install and I touched up every nick in the paint to be sure. 5 minutes of extra effort may lead to not snapping something in a few years.
I know you live in Abq (used to live there and I know it's dry) and I don't know how often your car gets wet, but it's a theory.
I just finished a suspension install and I touched up every nick in the paint to be sure. 5 minutes of extra effort may lead to not snapping something in a few years.
