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Topic: Slight bend in upper control arm shaft

in Forum: C3 Handling Components


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Slight bend in upper control arm shaft (1/5)
 6/7/14 1:40pm
BigShoes16
Former Member

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Worcester, MA - USA

Vette(s):
75 L-82 Coupe 4-spd


Joined: 2/25/2013
Posts: 52

Hello from Massachusetts - 

Still pushing through my front end suspension rebuild project (6 months at this point) and noticed that I have a slightly bent upper control arm shaft - check out the picture below

The handle of my son's foam sword provides perspective?

Anyway, can you see that arc from end to end?
Is this problematic?  Should it be replaced?

The car handled as well as can be expected for a 1975 with shot bushings and ball joints, but now that those are being replaced, will the effects of this bent shaft be more pronounced?

Also, I read on another forum about a guy who would machine his own shafts and offset them in a way to provide some positive caster.  I wouldn't mind the extra stability at high speed but can't find a production shaft that is offset for caster.  Anyone got a line on these?  Do they exist? Will those provide additional issues I'm not aware of?

The car is a 75 L82 with power steering that has also been rebuilt during this project.

Thanks for any input you think would be helpful.




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Re: Slight bend in upper control arm shaft (2/5)
 6/7/14 2:20pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

Well, you could always fix it with a 2lb sledge to the middle of it. Smile

Honestly, I don't know.

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Re: Slight bend in upper control arm shaft (3/5)
 6/8/14 10:11am
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

NAPA only sells an offset for added "chamber."

I don't know what your budget is, but Speed direct has a few different options on control arm kits that add additional "castor."  


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Re: Slight bend in upper control arm shaft (4/5)
 6/8/14 11:29am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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Some ham-fisted alignment guy did that. Angry  Those things will not bend like in normal circumstances on the car.
Personally, I would put it in a press and press it flat, and reuse....but that's me.

Camber is the amount the tire leans in-out at the top. Caster is the inclination of the centerline between the top/bottom ball joints. All cars use a positive caster...the more caster, the better the straight-line steering, but more caster also adds to the steering effort, since the tires want to stay centered. Look at the casters on the front of a shopping cart....or notice the front tires on a Top Fuel dragster. Anything much past center, and the wheels will "flop" to one side, and be almost impossible to straighten out.

Camber is adjusted by moving the entire control arm(front-rear) in-out the same amount. Changing camber does not effect caster.
Caster is adjusted by moving only the front or rear of the arm in-out. Changing caster DOES effect camber...it's a vicious circle.

I've never seen the need to go much(if any) out of the factory specs for front end alignment on a street driven car. If you're doing some Gymkahanas, Autocross, Solo1, or road racing, yeah, there's work to be done in the alignment department. Otherwise, I just don't see the need....but that's just me. Thumbs Up

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Re: Slight bend in upper control arm shaft (5/5)
 6/9/14 8:16pm
BigShoes16
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Worcester, MA - USA

Vette(s):
75 L-82 Coupe 4-spd


Joined: 2/25/2013
Posts: 52

Thanks again for the help. I looked at some of the suspension kits but those were quickly removed from consideration after I blew a large chunk of the budget on re-coring the corroded and leaking radiator. I'll have the local hot rod shop press that control arm back flat and keep it stock.

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