Control Arms...FUBAR'd

[dougfather]

The subject says it all. I bought a ball joint press out at Harbor Freight this morning. And so I did.

I came home, got out my new Energy Suspension bushings. I started to press them in. It seemed to go easy....almost to easy at first.

And then as I get the lower rear bushing going in, something caught my eye. The lower control arm was TEARING at a spot perpedicular to the hole. Luckily, I am not too far into the project. Bad news is I already cleaned and powder coated thes control arms.

[edit: fixed img link I think - GP403]

 

[85t5mcss]

Thats not good. Can't imagine why it happened unless it was cracked already and just didn't catch it.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Did you brace the arm with a piece of steel between the 2 sides of the arm in the section that holds the bushing? That's what I have heard you are supposed to do and I believe that's how the machine shop did it when I had mine done.

 

[dougfather]

Did you brace the arm with a piece of steel between the 2 sides of the arm in the section that holds the bushing?

I didn't brace them. BUT I think the culprit was the fact my buddy cut out the old bushings with a torch. I noticed that is where the crack began.