1970 Control arm rebuild question

[Tom L.]

I thought I saw this in a post a while back, but I can't find it now. Does anyone know what the proper finish is for the control arm shafts? Also, my ball joints are the replacement style with nuts and bolts. Can I put the original style back in or did the holes have to be drilled out for the bolts? Thank you.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Control arm rebuild question

Tom-----

By 1970, I think that the shafts could have been either painted black or natural. Check yours for any indication of there being vestiges of paint. If you find absolutely none, then yours were probably natural.

The upper ball joints were originally retained by three 1/4" rivets. The original ball joints had three holes in them of size 9/32" to accommodate these rivets. ALL SERVICE upper ball joints have 11/32" holes to accommodate 5/16" bolts. The upper a-arms have to have the holes enlarged to 11/32" to also accommodate the 5/16" bolts. So, if you rivet the uppers, you have to use 5/16" rivets (which, of course, are not original).

The lower ball joints used 5/16" rivets with the original hole size in the lower a-arms at 11/32" and the hole size in the original ball joints at 11/32". ALL SERVICE lower ball joints have a hole size of 11/32". So, lower ball joints can be installed with 5/16" rivets, as original.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Control arm rebuild question

Tom-----

By 1970, I think that the shafts could have been either painted black or natural. Check yours for any indication of there being vestiges of paint. If you find absolutely none, then yours were probably natural.

The upper ball joints were originally retained by three 1/4" rivets. The original ball joints had three holes in them of size 9/32" to accommodate these rivets. ALL SERVICE upper ball joints have 11/32" holes to accommodate 5/16" bolts. The upper a-arms have to have the holes enlarged to 11/32" to also accommodate the 5/16" bolts. So, if you rivet the uppers, you have to use 5/16" rivets (which, of course, are not original).

The lower ball joints used 5/16" rivets with the original hole size in the lower a-arms at 11/32" and the hole size in the original ball joints at 11/32". ALL SERVICE lower ball joints have a hole size of 11/32". So, lower ball joints can be installed with 5/16" rivets, as original.

[Tom L.]

Thanks Joe ! *NM*

[Tom L.]

Thanks Joe ! *NM*

[Jim T.]

Re: 1970 Control arm rebuild question

Tom I made an earlier post on my 70's shafts on 26 Nov. From what I could tell of my untouched original upper shafts, they are not painted.

[Jim T.]

Re: 1970 Control arm rebuild question

Tom I made an earlier post on my 70's shafts on 26 Nov. From what I could tell of my untouched original upper shafts, they are not painted.