Control arm bushing "washers"

[gedmeyer]

Does anyone know where I can find the "washers" that go over the ends of the control arm bushings? (A bolt goes through them and into the ends of the control arm pivot)

For some reason, I can't find them anywhere!

-tim

 

[Jack]

www.zip-products.com has em. They're called retainers.

upper retainers
http://www.zip-products.com/Corvett...alse&mscssid=0A2CFA052253C40FEB7F97C411BCB41A

lower retainers
http://www.zip-products.com/Corvett...alse&mscssid=0A2CFA052253C40FEB7F97C411BCB41A

**EDIT** If using Polyurethane CA bushings (not OE Rubber) do ensure the CA shafts' female threads & retainer bolts' threads are Extra Clean (absolutely NO bushing assembly grease allowed in retaining threads) ... and DO use Loctite in retaining threads. Cleanliness & Loctite not critical if using rubber bushings.

JACK:gap

 

[ddbjr]

If you haven't bought them yet I have some spare I can send you, just e-mail me.

donald

 

[gedmeyer]

thanks, but I ordered them this morning!

 

[Johan]

**EDIT** If using Polyurethane CA bushings (not OE Rubber) do ensure the CA shafts' female threads & retainer bolts' threads are Extra Clean (absolutely NO bushing assembly grease allowed in retaining threads) ... and DO use Loctite in retaining threads. Cleanliness & Loctite not critical if using rubber bushings.

Jack,
I haven't heard this before. Is the bolts more likely to loosen when used with the poly bushings? I just assembled mine without loctite (but still have a-arms off car), maybe I should fix this?

 

[Jack]

Jack,
I haven't heard this before. Is the bolts more likely to loosen when used with the poly bushings? I just assembled mine without loctite (but still have a-arms off car), maybe I should fix this?

YES ... bolts are more likely to loosen with poly. The poly bushing is neither bonded to outer shell nor inner sleeve ... they are lubed with a very slimey but necessary grease ... the bushing / sleeve will turn a bit as CA articulates ... the poly setup is designed to turn in this way. However, with no bond ... and if the retainer bolt & washer fell away ... the poly bushing insert can easily pop right out of the CA ... and ruin your day. Use extra clean threads & Loctite with poly.

OE type rubber CA bushing is a bonded unit ... both inner sleeve & outer shell are bonded to the rubber insert. If the OE bushings' bonds are reasonably intact and the shell is firmly pressed into CA ... the retainer might fall off but the rubber bushing will stay in place.
JACK:gap

 

[69vettester]

I had my front end "professionally" replaced last spring at a performance shop. The replacement was with Poly bushings. The lock washers were not replaced nor was loctite used on the threads. Before I knew I had a serious problem, The Driverside upper control arm bolt's nut loosened and came off, then the retainer, then the front bushing spit out , causing the wheel to flop. I was lucky and found the problem before any destruction to the wheel assy. happened.
Jack is absolutely correct, with what he's saying and I have of course replaced every lock Washer and nut and used loctite on all the bolt threads for upper and lower control arm assy's.
Hope this helps..
Tom

 

[Jaredj]

If you haven't bought them yet I have some spare I can send you, just e-mail me.

donald

If you still have them lying around, I'd be interested. Zip doesn't sell them anymore.

 

[bill81vette]

Welcome to CAC!!!
enjoy the forums..

however if you get a hold of one of the corvette vendors websites you
may find what your looking for...
you can try corvette central, Corvette Parts & Accessories | Corvette Central
corvette america,Corvette Parts & Accessories | Corvette Central
paragonParagon Corvette Reproductions: 1953-96 Corvette Parts & Accessories
good luck.

 

[SVO]

Looking in the 1976 GM Corvette parts manual:

Original GM part number for the upper control arm bushing retainier was 3710586 (group 6.163). Googling "GM #3710586" turned this up:

1967-1968-1969 Camaro Control arm bushing washer kit - 1967, 1968, 1969 Camaro Parts - NOS, Rare, Reproduction Camaro Parts for your Restoration

Perhaps this will help you out.