Suspension and Chassis Questions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?

Control arm help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 28, 2023 | 02:44 PM
  #1  
19eighty4_z28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 121
Likes: 17
From: Earth
Car: One Chevy built in the 80s
Engine: 5.7 crate
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Quick performance 9” 3.70
Control arm help

Does anybody know a company that makes stock or near stock R & L front control arms for a 3rd gen. Almost everything is $500 plus. Somebody out there gotta make ‘em…right?
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2023 | 03:07 PM
  #2  
DaveyDug's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 288
Likes: 68
From: Ohio
Car: 1989 IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Axle/Gears: 2.77 Posi
Re: Control arm help

Used ones are dirt cheap all over the place. Buy a set, powder coat or paint them, install new bushings and ball joints and slap em in your car.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2023 | 03:17 PM
  #3  
19eighty4_z28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 121
Likes: 17
From: Earth
Car: One Chevy built in the 80s
Engine: 5.7 crate
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Quick performance 9” 3.70
Re: Control arm help

That’s the first option I tried. Took me calling around to 672 places just to find a shop that would press new ones in. Guy at the machine shop said “the ball joint is too big and won’t go in” it’s a TRQ part…maybe try a different brand?
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2023 | 03:25 PM
  #4  
LiquidBlue's Avatar
Supreme Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 243
From: Austin, TX
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Control arm help

search around here, I think it is a chevy S10 that has same arm, less the bump stops, which can be welded on.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2023 | 04:53 PM
  #5  
19eighty4_z28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 121
Likes: 17
From: Earth
Car: One Chevy built in the 80s
Engine: 5.7 crate
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Quick performance 9” 3.70
Re: Control arm help

Originally Posted by LiquidBlue
search around here, I think it is a chevy S10 that has same arm, less the bump stops, which can be welded on.
what year S10?
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2023 | 06:57 PM
  #6  
sofakingdom's Avatar
Supreme Member
20 Year Member
Community Builder
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27,882
Likes: 2,434
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Control arm help

If you REALLY want new ones for whyever, get S10 ones. Same thing. rockauto has em. Maybe 91 or so, doesn't really matter, the part has been the same since they introduced it part in about 1978 on Chevelles and El Caminos and such.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2023 | 07:00 PM
  #7  
19eighty4_z28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 121
Likes: 17
From: Earth
Car: One Chevy built in the 80s
Engine: 5.7 crate
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Quick performance 9” 3.70
Re: Control arm help

[QUOTE=sofakingdom;6499814]If you REALLY want new ones for whyever, get S10 ones. Same thing. rockauto has

So my question remains…what year S10 has the same ones.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2023 | 09:22 PM
  #8  
DaveyDug's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 288
Likes: 68
From: Ohio
Car: 1989 IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Axle/Gears: 2.77 Posi
Re: Control arm help

Originally Posted by 19eighty4_z28
That’s the first option I tried. Took me calling around to 672 places just to find a shop that would press new ones in. Guy at the machine shop said “the ball joint is too big and won’t go in” it’s a TRQ part…maybe try a different brand?
You can press them in yourself. The tool can be rented for free at Auto Zone. Bushings are really easy to press in. Ball joints are a bit more challenging, but very doable. Watch some YouTube videos to see how it all works.

I don't know anything about TRQ parts, but you want your ball joints to be a good press fit.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2023 | 11:40 PM
  #9  
LiquidBlue's Avatar
Supreme Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 243
From: Austin, TX
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Control arm help

Yo Sofa!
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2023 | 11:41 PM
  #10  
LiquidBlue's Avatar
Supreme Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 243
From: Austin, TX
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Control arm help

yes sir
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2023 | 11:43 PM
  #11  
LiquidBlue's Avatar
Supreme Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 243
From: Austin, TX
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Control arm help

[QUOTE=19eighty4_z28;6499815]
Originally Posted by sofakingdom
If you REALLY want new ones for whyever, get S10 ones. Same thing. rockauto has

So my question remains…what year S10 has the same ones.
Prollly about the same year, i dont know. Do your research, its your car, dont f it up. you will learn, and you will be proud of your project. do it!
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2023 | 08:30 AM
  #12  
sofakingdom's Avatar
Supreme Member
20 Year Member
Community Builder
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27,882
Likes: 2,434
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Control arm help

what year S10 has the same ones
What year was the S10 introduced? What year was it discontinued?

So far as I know, from that year, to the other year.

I had a 78 El Camino. Had the same ones. Of course both of those types of vehicles have front shock absorbers, which our cars don't, even though their CAs have the hole pattern for them.

I wanted used ones one time because one of mine was bent. I went to the junkyard, which at the time I visited every few weeks for one thing or another, and walked up to the counter and asked for a pair, since I didn't feel like pulling them myself. Hadn't seen a 3rd gen in the yard for months. D00d walked to a shelf, there was a pile of em about 3' tall, pulled a couple out, and handed em to me. Cost me like $25 or 30 (late 80s, not saying that's what they'd cost today). Clearly had had shocks bolted to em their entire life. Still on the car to this day.

Only potential difference, as far as "fitment", is the steering stops. Which as Liquid pointed out, can be cut off and replaced. Pretty easy to do that by drilling a hole and using a bolt and 2 nuts, which then even makes them adjustable. W/e, the ones I got at the buzzard nest were fine, I didn't mess with em at all.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
NotoriousREV
Suspension and Chassis
1
May 7, 2022 08:44 AM
cagedruss
Transmissions and Drivetrain
0
Sep 26, 2012 11:08 PM
MSmith
Suspension and Chassis
7
Feb 23, 2009 11:20 PM
400cidz28
South West Region
12
Apr 6, 2004 10:07 PM
Shagwell
Suspension and Chassis
2
Apr 28, 2002 05:45 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:52 PM.