Holy Cow- What's missing here?

[Gerard F.]

Was under the car checking the transmission and clutch linkage for that vibration I've been getting on startup in first. Everything looked normal there. Then I noticed this at the lower control arm on the drivers side:




The passenger side looks like this:



Nice and neat with a bolt, lock washer and heavy washer.

In the upper picture, there seems to be a pipe sticking out where the bushing should be. Is that pipe or tube, the remnants of the bushing, or some bubba mechanic thing. Is it common for a bushing to fail like this?

I had my suspension redone with new front springs at a shop about five years ago. But that tube looks a little fresh for 5 years like that. I remember driving along about a month ago and hearing a clunk like a rock hit the floorboard. Just after that I started noticing the clutch vibration on an uphill startup. Maybe I don't need a clutch after all.

But I might shoot some mechanic

[Terry R.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

That "pipe" sticking out is the inner part of the control arm bushing. Good thing you were looking around.

[Terry M.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

Is it common for a bushing to fail like this?

I've spent a lot of time around and under LASA (Long Arm, Short Arm) suspensions and never seen a failure like this. I would rate it UNCOMMON. As a judge I have found loose fasteners on the cars we were judging from time to time, and pointed them out to the owner. I am a huge fan of finding torque values and using a torque wrench.

That said, there is a lesson here for the rest of us: Get the car in the air and give it a thorough look over once in a while. Even if it only rides in a trailer fasteners can come loose, or not be tightened properly in the first place. Even brand new cars can have this happen -- that's why there are PDIs.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

I've spent a lot of time around and under LASA (Long Arm, Short Arm) suspensions and never seen a failure like this. I would rate it UNCOMMON. As a judge I have found loose fasteners on the cars we were judging from time to time, and pointed them out to the owner. I am a huge fan of finding torque values and using a torque wrench.

That said, there is a lesson here for the rest of us: Get the car in the air and give it a thorough look over once in a while. Even if it only rides in a trailer fasteners can come loose, or not be tightened properly in the first place. Even brand new cars can have this happen -- that's why there are PDIs.

I have seen this failure many times especially with urethane bushings.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

Yep, urethane bushings from Eckler's, just over 4 years old and 6000 miles.
Looks like I'm going back to rubber, they lasted 37 years.

[Terry M.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

I have never used urethane bushings. I just found another reason not to. I guess that is why I haven't seen this kind of failure. I've lead a sheltered life, I guess.

I have replaced a ton of worn out and failed rubber suspension bushings, and never found a compelling reason for urethane -- even in big block Chevelles (the original A-body) with the exhaust manifold about three-inches from the upper control arm bushing we always replaced rubber with rubber. Inexpensive and fast (well it was fast when I was younger) -- and no squeaks until the heat destroys them again. We (my brother and I) used to change them seasonally. It was just a part of the price of owning a BB Chevelle.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

Yep, urethane bushings from Eckler's, just over 4 years old and 6000 miles.
Looks like I'm going back to rubber, they lasted 37 years.

Thought so. They are OK but you need to use lock tight on the bolts. The bolts will work loose, and the bushings are slip fit, so they just fall out.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

Wayne/Terry,

Can the lower A-Arm bushings be replaced while A-Arm is on the car. I'm reading the shop procedure in the service manual and having a fit.

[Terry M.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

Wayne/Terry,

Can the lower A-Arm bushings be replaced while A-Arm is on the car. I'm reading the shop procedure in the service manual and having a fit.

I've never done them on the car -- It just seemed easier and safer to take the control arm off. I use an air chisel to "walk" the bushings off, and I wouldn't want to lay down there trying to get them out. For safety reasons I want the spring out of there, and once the spring is out, taking the lower arm off is a piece of cake.

[John H.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

I judged a '67 at St. Charles that had the bolt and thick retainer washer completely missing from the rear of the RH upper control arm bushing; when I pointed it out to the owner, he was .

[Paul D.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

Jerry,
I am in the process of replacing all the bushings and ball joints on my 71 now and I am also going back with OEM rubber pieces. Short of a race car, I see no benefit with poly. This is being done as part of an engine overhaul that got WAY out of hand. A case of "while I'm in there I may as well...".
That being said, unless you just want to go ahead and overhaul your front suspension now, you may be able to fix that bushing. That sleeve is a slip fit and not pressed in I think. You may be able to unload the suspension, slide the sleeve back in, and replace the bolt and washer. Be sure to check all the others. Removing them and adding thread locker as Wayne suggested would be time well spent too. Maybe you can get a few more miles out of it while you plan out another front end project. If the poly part of the bushing appears damaged, though you may as well start the teardown. Good luck with the project.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

Yes, you should be able to slip a urethane bushing back in, if you can center the shaft in the hole.

[Alan D.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

Don't know about a 67, but a 64 is not a just push back in (urethane may be that way, but I do not know).
Now the upper is a simple push in, but the lower is a big pain in the . . . Best to do off the car with a press - you will need to make up some tools (I used pipes and cut to size). Know lots of past info on the subject on the DB, for I did mine in Jan 08. Used a hole saw to remove the rubber, others use heat - assuming it's off car.

Naturally while you are apart, clean up the support, paint, and detail it. Well that may lead to looking at other which now will look like a piece of .. .

Could just buy the whole lower arm from a good source and bolt back on. Get a plan for the spring if you have not done that before.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

Don't know about a 67, but a 64 is not a just push back in (urethane may be that way, but I do not know).
Now the upper is a simple push in, but the lower is a big pain in the . . . Best to do off the car with a press - you will need to make up some tools (I used pipes and cut to size). Know lots of past info on the subject on the DB, for I did mine in Jan 08. Used a hole saw to remove the rubber, others use heat - assuming it's off car.

Naturally while you are apart, clean up the support, paint, and detail it. Well that may lead to looking at other which now will look like a piece of .. .

Could just buy the whole lower arm from a good source and bolt back on. Get a plan for the spring if you have not done that before.

None of the rubber bushings are slip in for sure, but urethanes are basically that. Thats why they will come out if the bolt comes off.

[Paul D.]

Re: Holy Cow- What's missing here?

Wayne,
Looking at the picture, I'm hoping for Jerry's sake that the slightest amount of the sleeve is still hanging onto the shaft. If so, maybe a quick and easy fix.

Jerry, Let us know how it turns out.