How does a control arm come loose?
How does a control arm come loose?
Most instances when the upper control arm bushing retaining bolt loosens with suspension movement, it is caused by one of two things. First could be improper torque of the bolt. The most common thing is, the bolts were tightened while the suspension was hanging in the air.
Are control arms supposed to be tight?
When properly torqued, the bolt will tightly clamp the inner sleeve to the vehicle frame. The sleeve will NOT be free to pivot on the bolt. Any control arm movement results in a twisting or flexing of the bushing material. So in other words, there will be resistance felt when trying to move the control arm by hand.
Why is my lower control arm so bad?
Again, the components on the lower control arm are usually the culprits since that arm not only has the job of connecting the wheel assembly and frame but also carrying the weight of the vehicle.
What happens when a bolt comes loose on a bolt?
This stretching, or tension, results in an opposing clamp force that holds the two sections of the joint together. If the bolt comes loose, this clamp force weakens. Loose bolts are not just an irritating nuisance.
When do you need to replace your control arm?
Rough terrain, driving that taxes the suspension, and environmental factors will accelerate the wear of the control arm bushings until you notice the symptoms and they require replacement.
Can a bad control arm cause tire wear?
Irregular tire wear and steering wander is often a sign of mis-alignment of the wheel which can be caused by problems with either the control arm bushings or ball joint, among other factors. But if these problems arose after having the lower control arm replaced then it’s likely that’s where you’ll find your tire-eating culprit.
Why is my control arm bolt not spinning?
If not the threads in the frame are stripped (it happens I deal with the crap everyday im a tech:laugh If so you’ll have to re tap the frame rail if you dont have access tap and die kit maybe you can go buy one.
Where does the control arm bolt go in a Chevy?
The bolt that goes through the Front Lower Control Arm Rear Bushing goes up into a nut that should be captive in the frame. This nut is no longer captive, so I can neither tighten nor remove the bolt!
What to do if your control arm nut spins?
The cage nut now freely spins inside the cage, so the cage is what I thought was a sheet metal box. I should be able to break the cage loose, slide the bolt up and get an open end on the nut. Then replace the cage nut ($4.50) and a new bolt ($8.50) and I’m back in business.
How much does it cost to replace a control arm nut?
I should be able to break the cage loose, slide the bolt up and get an open end on the nut. Then replace the cage nut ($4.50) and a new bolt ($8.50) and I’m back in business. I’ll update again… hopefully with pictures!
