Hi folks,

I got the lower front control arms installed. I have a few questions abuot the bolt orientation. Are the heads of the bolts all supposed to face the front, and the nuts face the back? If so, is this mandatory? If not, what is the correct bolt orientation?

Also, were there washers used on those bolts, or just lock-nuts? I can't remember :(

Thanks in advance!

lev,

I am trying to do this from memory, but I think I can help. The bolts only went in one way easily. The rear bolt went in from the front and the nut was on the rear. If you tried the other way, I think the bolt would hit the frame. And on the front bolt, the bolt installs from the rear and the nut goes on the front. Again the bolt will hit if installed the other way, this time on the steering linkage. Also my car had no washers or lock washers on the bolts. You can see the rear bolt here. (http://www.buffnet.net/~airrj/images/MyChevelle/CBB/Complete-1.jpg)

Hope this helps.

RJ, thanks! you're right, the rear bolt only went in one way - the frame was in the way. The front bolts go in both ways easy, though. I have the center link off, and I can't remember if putting the front bolt nut forward would get in the way. I'll try it your way, and we'll see what happens.

Those bolts only get torqued when the car is pat back on the ground, correct?

Also, do those control arm bolts use washers, or just thelock nut?

Thanks!

Yes, I would torque them once the car is on the ground. And mine only had the locknut. No Washers.

Originally posted by lev:
RJ, thanks! you're right, the rear bolt only went in one way - the frame was in the way. The front bolts go in both ways easy, though. I have the center link off, and I can't remember if putting the front bolt nut forward would get in the way. I'll try it your way, and we'll see what happens.

Those bolts only get torqued when the car is pat back on the ground, correct?

Also, do those control arm bolts use washers, or just thelock nut?

Thanks! Yeah, torque em on the floor. Just the locknuts on mine, didnt have any washers. Just disassembled and re-assembled couple of weeks ago.

Also, the front ones that you see when looking at the lowers from in front of the car. These were bolt head on the front side (centerlink, tie rod side) and lock nut on the backside (inside of the arm portion) So when looking at the arm from the front side you see the bolt head and not the lock nut.

Gentlemen, thank you again! I'm gonna snug it up after work now, and install the center linkage.

This site rules :cool:

Just a suggestion on your control arms, the manual I have is for a 69 and theres a lot of information and pictures that will could help you out if you have a library where you're at they might have a 70 manual there when you're working on front suspension Its probably not a good idea to guess on certain things these cars are 35 years old and you don't know who will be driving that car if you ever sell it guessing on cosmetics is okay but we need to put all suspension parts in correctly to ensure the our safety and the little ones coming up through the ranks will be okay, don't take this the wrong way please I'm only trying to help Rob.

Just a suggestion on your control arms, the manual I have is for a 69 and theres a lot of information and pictures that will could help you out if you have a library where you're at they might have a 70 manual there when you're working on front suspension Its probably not a good idea to guess on certain things these cars are 35 years old and you don't know who will be driving that car if you ever sell it guessing on cosmetics is okay but we need to put all suspension parts in correctly to ensure the our safety and the little ones coming up through the ranks will be okay, don't take this the wrong way please I'm only trying to help Rob.

lol, good info and all but the post you just brought up was from over two years ago. :clonk: :D

If Lev's still working on reinstalling the front arms, we'd have to hunt him down and make him buy a two tone orange and white Pinto.

I'm new and still learning how this goes but I'm in it for the (Long Haul) Rob