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Re: Lower control arm clunk from pivot point, fixable?
[Re: GODSCOUNTRY340]
#1392941
02/24/13 09:42 PM
02/24/13 09:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
autoxcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
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Yes, you can tighten the halves of the LCA around the pivot housing.  BUT there still can be wear between the OD of the pivot housing and the halves of the LCA stampings. Tightening the halves together will not fix that looseness. I have that problem with my LCA's. I clamped and weded the halves together in the above picture about 16 years ago in 1997. But now there is noticable movement between the pivot housing and LCA stampings. This is the same set of LCA's as pictured above on the left, just painted black and 16 years later...
Last edited by autoxcuda; 02/24/13 09:52 PM.
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Re: Lower control arm clunk from pivot point, fixable?
[Re: larry4406]
#1392942
02/24/13 10:42 PM
02/24/13 10:42 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 350
Hudson Valley
conv440
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 350
Hudson Valley
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Quote:
I have had bad u-joints "clunk" when going from forward to reverse and vise versa. Why do you suspect the control arm?
Funny you mention that. I am starting to wonder if the clunk was not LCA related but I've eliminated several other potential problems. The U joints and the trans yolk were both toast and causing 'other' clunks. Those got fixed last year.
Quote:
Check your strut rod bushings.Quote:
Strut rod bushings are poly and fairly new. Have them out too but no apparent wear or problems.
Autoxcuda, yes I was wondering about the tolerance on that as well. Mine don't seem exceptionally worn but there is some play. Wondering if a few choice blows with a chisel all around the circumference would stake the outers into the inner. That fix might be only temporary if it worked at all.
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Re: Lower control arm clunk from pivot point, fixable?
[Re: conv440]
#1392943
02/25/13 12:04 PM
02/25/13 12:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,008
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,008
U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
My 1970 Challenger had a clunk when shifting from forward to reverse. The right LCA may have excessive wear at the pivot point between the torsion bar adjuster and the outer housing. Can I successfully squeeze the two outer parts against the pivot shaft in a press or is this LCA scrap? I really hate to replace it because they have the boxing plate welded in and sway bar mounts.
How do you know it's the control arms ? Do you feel the clunk in the steering wheel ?
How much backlash is in the rear end ? Is the car an auto or 4 speed ?
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Re: Lower control arm clunk from pivot point, fixable?
[Re: conv440]
#1392944
02/25/13 12:12 PM
02/25/13 12:12 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,106
Northeast
VincentVega
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,106
Northeast
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That's usually strut rods. Check the big nut torque, perhaps the bolts to the LCA. any big clunks from the axle between coast down and putting power on? (backlash?)
KFrame loose? (yikes). Sector shaft loose? Idler arm?
Transmount?
Looking for 1975 through 1978 B body 4 door sedan sheet metal or parts cars - monaco, fury, coronet. Please let me know
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Re: Lower control arm clunk from pivot point, fixable?
[Re: conv440]
#1392945
02/25/13 12:33 PM
02/25/13 12:33 PM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,678
Fresno, CA
Jim_Lusk
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,678
Fresno, CA
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Quote:
My 1970 Challenger had a clunk when shifting from forward to reverse. The right LCA may have excessive wear at the pivot point between the torsion bar adjuster and the outer housing. Can I successfully squeeze the two outer parts against the pivot shaft in a press or is this LCA scrap? I really hate to replace it because they have the boxing plate welded in and sway bar mounts.
Watch this video...
http://youtu.be/Nwes-SP8u4w
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Re: Lower control arm clunk from pivot point, fixable?
[Re: Jim_Lusk]
#1392946
02/25/13 12:39 PM
02/25/13 12:39 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,106
Northeast
VincentVega
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,106
Northeast
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heh, arc welding with exposed skin...
Looking for 1975 through 1978 B body 4 door sedan sheet metal or parts cars - monaco, fury, coronet. Please let me know
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Re: Lower control arm clunk from pivot point, fixable?
[Re: VincentVega]
#1392947
02/25/13 12:47 PM
02/25/13 12:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,008
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,008
U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
heh, arc welding with exposed skin...
Working on his tan , I do it all the time ...
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Re: Lower control arm clunk from pivot point, fixable?
[Re: conv440]
#1392948
02/25/13 02:02 PM
02/25/13 02:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
autoxcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
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Quote:
....
Autoxcuda, yes I was wondering about the tolerance on that as well. Mine don't seem exceptionally worn but there is some play. Wondering if a few choice blows with a chisel all around the circumference would stake the outers into the inner. That fix might be only temporary if it worked at all.
You can pinch the back and weld a strap to hold it like I pictured. I don't think a few blows around that circumfernce would hurt anything. That's a good idea. And if the noise went away and came back, at least you could narrow down the source better (I'd chisel it again in the car to see if it would go away again to confirm). And/or you could also put lube in the circumfernce joint and see if that gave any temporary change.
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Re: Lower control arm clunk from pivot point, fixable?
[Re: autoxcuda]
#1392949
02/25/13 02:56 PM
02/25/13 02:56 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 12,271
Overpriced Housing Central
RobX4406
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Posts: 12,271
Overpriced Housing Central
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Quote:
Quote:
....
Autoxcuda, yes I was wondering about the tolerance on that as well. Mine don't seem exceptionally worn but there is some play. Wondering if a few choice blows with a chisel all around the circumference would stake the outers into the inner. That fix might be only temporary if it worked at all.
You can pinch the back and weld a strap to hold it like I pictured. I don't think a few blows around that circumfernce would hurt anything. That's a good idea. And if the noise went away and came back, at least you could narrow down the source better (I'd chisel it again in the car to see if it would go away again to confirm). And/or you could also put lube in the circumfernce joint and see if that gave any temporary change.
Be careful with pull from welding if putting straps across the arms.
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Re: Lower control arm clunk from pivot point, fixable?
[Re: VincentVega]
#1392950
02/25/13 08:48 PM
02/25/13 08:48 PM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,678
Fresno, CA
Jim_Lusk
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,678
Fresno, CA
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Quote:
heh, arc welding with exposed skin...
I don't do a lot of welding so I don't worry much about it. It's the shoes that catch on fire that make it real fun....
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Re: Lower control arm clunk from pivot point, fixable?
[Re: conv440]
#1392952
02/26/13 02:14 PM
02/26/13 02:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
autoxcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
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Quote:
The straps look like a great idea. I'm going to add the straps and then heat and beat the outer shell. There goes my OE Gold Certification!
You guys are making me feel guilty so I guess I better dig out my welding jacket and find some shoes that aren't made out of nylon.
You won't need to heat the shell. Just clamping it in a vise near the end will tighten it to however tight you set the vise at.
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Re: Lower control arm clunk from pivot point, fixable?
[Re: autoxcuda]
#1392953
02/26/13 02:20 PM
02/26/13 02:20 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 350
Hudson Valley
conv440
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 350
Hudson Valley
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I was going to heat the metal and give a few whacks to the rear outer shell to try to close the tolerance between the torsion bar mount and the rest of the arm. Same place you are experiencing some slop in your earlier post (looseness/gap/wear).
Last edited by conv440; 02/26/13 02:21 PM.
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