Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

[David B.]

I'm confused. In rebuilding the front end on my '59, the upper, inner "A" arm shaft has no where for the grease to go to lube anything. There is a dimple in the shaft, but no hole. The caps (nuts) with the zerk fittings are closed off by the threads engaging the inner shaft threads. So, when you put grease into the cap, it creates a hydraulic lock and serves no purpose. Am I missing something? Did I purchase the wrong kit?

Does the "A" arm pivot (go up or down) on the nuts or do the nuts pivot on the inner "A" arm shaft?
Any advice you could give me would be very much appreciated.

[Dan B.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

Dave,

My 59 has a front and a rear grease fitting on the upper inner bushings something with the kit you got does not sound right to me. When you have the bushings tightened properly, they are not supposed to move, instead the arm pivots inside.

[David B.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

Talking with the vendor, Corvette Central, I'm told that once you screw the nuts into the "A" arm they rotate with the "A" arm on the threads of the inner shaft. Understanding that concept, the grease flows along the threads between the nut and the inner shaft and comes out at the "O" ring (retangular "o" ring) at the support housing. Now I have a clearer picture of what is going on.
Thanks,

[Eric E.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

That is correct David. I just rebuilt the front suspension on my 62 and the nuts to the upper inner and lower inner control arms get torqued into the arms and then the grease lubricates the threads of the shaft inside the nut.

In replacing the upper inner shafts in the cross member, I believe that the dimple was originally used to orient the shaft direction as it is installed but serves no other function.

[Terry D.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

David
If you find you can't get it to take grease after assembly, it sometimes helps if you get a friend to push down on the fender to make the suspension go up and down as you grease it.

Terry

[David B.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

Thank you, I'll try that.
Thanks,

[Brandon T.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

Sounds like you got your question resolved. I'm building the front suspension on my 58 and just wondering if the spindles and steering knuckles should be painted black or natural with clear sprayed on them or sprayed cast.

[Eric E.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

The spindles and spindle supports should be cast, but, cast and bead blasted do not look the same. Natural cast is a darker grey than blast.

I went bead blasted and non gloss clear but I am not as concerned as some might be.

[David B.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

Don't know if it's correct but, I left all my cast iron natural, spindles, tir rod ends, steering arm, pitman arm and the gearbox.

[Eric E.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

David, that is the way I went too. Pitman, 3rd arm assy, etc... Send me a pm and I can send you a list that covers quite a bit of detail. Eric

[Tom P.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

If a 53-62 Corvette frontend (as well as 49-54 pass car------which is the same frontend) is undergoing a total rebuild, then each time a component, such as the upper A-frames, are assembled, then the bushings should be greased, the component worked up and down, greased some more and repeat 3-4 times to assure the bushing/shaft is THOROUGHLY greased. ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL suspension joints in the 53-62 cars is metal-to-metal and the grease is the ONLY protection against friction.
This is an article I put together a few years ago on the Chevytalk forum in the 49-54 section I did it there rather than here because it seems there is little or no interest in my input here.
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...hp?tid/218134/

[Mike M.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

If a 53-62 Corvette frontend (as well as 49-54 pass car------which is the same frontend) is undergoing a total rebuild, then each time a component, such as the upper A-frames, are assembled, then the bushings should be greased, the component worked up and down, greased some more and repeat 3-4 times to assure the bushing/shaft is THOROUGHLY greased. ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL suspension joints in the 53-62 cars is metal-to-metal and the grease is the ONLY protection against friction.
This is an article I put together a few years ago on the Chevytalk forum in the 49-54 section I did it there rather than here because it seems there is little or no interest in my input here.
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...hp?tid/218134/

tom: i never fail to read your posts. and i never fail to learn from them.regards and good seeing you at the recent texas regional. mike

[Eric E.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

If a 53-62 Corvette frontend (as well as 49-54 pass car------which is the same frontend) is undergoing a total rebuild, then each time a component, such as the upper A-frames, are assembled, then the bushings should be greased, the component worked up and down, greased some more and repeat 3-4 times to assure the bushing/shaft is THOROUGHLY greased. ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL suspension joints in the 53-62 cars is metal-to-metal and the grease is the ONLY protection against friction.
This is an article I put together a few years ago on the Chevytalk forum in the 49-54 section I did it there rather than here because it seems there is little or no interest in my input here.
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...hp?tid/218134/

Tom, I agree with Mike, You have been a tremendous help figuring out a first time rebuild and answering too many of my questions.
Eric

[Richard M.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

If a 53-62 Corvette frontend (as well as 49-54 pass car------which is the same frontend) is undergoing a total rebuild, then each time a component, such as the upper A-frames, are assembled, then the bushings should be greased, the component worked up and down, greased some more and repeat 3-4 times to assure the bushing/shaft is THOROUGHLY greased. ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL suspension joints in the 53-62 cars is metal-to-metal and the grease is the ONLY protection against friction.
This is an article I put together a few years ago on the Chevytalk forum in the 49-54 section I did it there rather than here because it seems there is little or no interest in my input here.
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...hp?tid/218134/

What the heck are you saying???? In all the time I've known you and read your posts, this is absolutely positively the ONLY wrong statement I have ever heard you make!

Tom, I have learned so much from you over many years, here, there or anywhere. I read everything you write and have saved your posts of great information in a special digital folder I keep. You are one on my "Hero" list. (:thumbs)

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: Upper "A" arm inner shaft grease

For reference, here's some info on the dimple and with Tom's guidance many years ago he taught me with some clever ways to use some old parts for tools.....

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