1957 Lower A-Arm Problem

[Ashley S.]

Last night I was installing the front suspension components on my project car and I ran into a problem. I cannot get the bushing/nut that threads onto the lower inner shaft to engage the threads of the A-arm hole. It appears that the threads on the A-arm are messed up a bit, but I don't think this is any sort of a standard thread type. Has anyone run into this problem and does anyone have any suggestions on how to clean the threads up? The cross shaft and the bushing/nut are fine, it is just the A-arm part that is the problem.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Michael L.]

Re: 1957 Lower A-Arm Problem

I'd reccomend taking the A-arm to a machine shop so they can re-thread. Unless you have the tools to do it properly, you could make it worse or have a problem on the road. Other option if shop can't fix, replace the A-arm. I ran into the same problem with my '55 front end. Better safe that sorry.

[Tracy C.]

Re: 1957 Lower A-Arm Problem

If the threads are male, you can clean up them up with a small thin blade jewelers file.

tc

[Ashley S.]

Re: 1957 Lower A-Arm Problem

The "bad" portion of the threads are on the A-Arm itself, so they are female.

[Roy B.]

Re: 1957 Lower A-Arm Problem

If you can clean them up a little as Tracy said, then start the large nuts at the same time and evenly tighten them at the same time. Now If you already have the front spring in and this is the "last" step remove the top outer a-arm large nuts and do the lower first then the top it's easier .Remember the large nuts going in to the A-arms don't TURN or say move, it's the inner thread of the large nuts that moves on the cross shaft.