Current Classifieds

Looking for a 1977 Ford Pinto Runabout Hatchback
Date: 10/15/2017 10:03 am
Weather Strip, Muffler, Splash Shields

Date: 02/21/2022 11:11 pm
1974 points distributor for 2.3l
Date: 07/04/2022 07:55 pm
parting out 1975 & 80 pintos
Date: 10/31/2018 12:00 pm
1974 Ford Pinto

Date: 10/16/2017 10:45 am
1978 Pinto Wagon V8
Date: 04/28/2023 03:26 pm
Wanted '75 Bobcat Instrument Cluster & Wiring Harness
Date: 12/09/2018 06:59 am
Pinto Watch
Date: 06/22/2019 07:16 pm
Early V8 swap headers, damaged, fixable?
Date: 10/25/2019 03:30 pm
1971 Pinto Do It Yourself Manual

Date: 03/06/2017 01:19 am
73 Pinto delivery wagon drag car

Date: 02/22/2017 01:58 pm
Pinto interior parts for Cruisen / Rallye wagon
Date: 01/19/2021 03:56 pm

Author Topic: Control arm  (Read 1719 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Jdm071755

  • Pinto Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 163
  • FeedBack: +24/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Mobile User
Control arm
« on: October 28, 2017, 10:22:06 AM »
I just notice my upper control arm bushings are dry and cracked. I have never done this job before. Is it a pain or take it to the shop


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Joe

Offline dick1172762

  • Vintage Pinto Racer
  • PCCA Management Board
  • Pinto Sr. Master
  • ******
  • Posts: 2623
  • FeedBack: +362/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • I'm a llama!

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User 1000 Posts Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Control arm
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2017, 11:25:11 AM »
Without the proper tools it would be VERY hard to do. I've known people that burned them out but what a mess. A good automotive shop can do it really fast. Try to clean them up first.
Its better to be a has-been, than a never was.

Offline Jdm071755

  • Pinto Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 163
  • FeedBack: +24/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Mobile User
Re: Control arm
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2017, 11:26:27 AM »
Without the proper tools it would be VERY hard to do. I've known people that burned them out but what a mess. A good automotive shop can do it really fast. Try to clean them up first.
Sounds good Thanks for the Advise


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Joe

Offline Pintosopher

  • 33yrs SCCA, 19yrs Egroups/PCCA ,40yrs enlightenment
  • PCCA Charter Member
  • Pinto Master
  • *
  • Posts: 2000
  • FeedBack: +383/-1
  • Gender: Male
  • Essses my Nirvana , Liberty to play, my mission

  • Total Badges: 9
    Badges: (View All)
    Mobile User Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter 1000 Posts Windows User Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary Photographer
Re: Control arm
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2017, 11:29:14 AM »
If the upper bushings are shot, it's a sure thing the Lower arm bushing and strut rod bushing are hardened to sloppiness. This puts you in the enviable position of rebuilding the entire front end. Without the Press tools to properly remove and replace the pieces, you'll be in for a few days of work and much grief.
 I just did my pickup and had to buy a Spring compressor , rent a larger ball joint tool , and buy a control arm bushing tool kit , and fight the bloody lower bushings into the control arm. Mostly because my tool wasn't designed for the lower arm bushing. A local shop wanted $2400 to do the job and wouldn't let me provide the parts to save money. I have time and persistence, so I was also thinking of my Pinto needing all this soon too, when I bought the tools. I'm still going to have to buy the larger bushing tool add on kit for other projects.
 I hope the parts are still available for the early pinto, the Moog catalog might not list them anymore.
 It's a  labor of Love, but still worth it..
 
 Pintosopher :)
Yes, it is possible to study and become a master of Pintosophy.. Not a religion , nothing less than a life quest for non conformity and rational thought. What Horse did you ride in on?

Check my Pinto Poems out...

Offline robertwwithee

  • Pinto Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 228
  • FeedBack: +4/-0
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 2
    Badges: (View All)
    Mobile User Topic Starter
Re: Control arm
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2017, 03:15:29 PM »
Agree with dick as well

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk


Offline Jdm071755

  • Pinto Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 163
  • FeedBack: +24/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Mobile User
Re: Control arm
« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2017, 04:24:47 PM »
Agree with dick as well

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
I agree with dick too


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Joe

Offline Pintosopher

  • 33yrs SCCA, 19yrs Egroups/PCCA ,40yrs enlightenment
  • PCCA Charter Member
  • Pinto Master
  • *
  • Posts: 2000
  • FeedBack: +383/-1
  • Gender: Male
  • Essses my Nirvana , Liberty to play, my mission

  • Total Badges: 9
    Badges: (View All)
    Mobile User Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter 1000 Posts Windows User Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary Photographer
Re: Control arm
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2017, 06:54:48 PM »
In essence, I agree with Dick too.  ;) I'm just a stubborn DIYer and don't really care to McGyver things anymore. I'm too old for the Stress and the Impatience of the many. I'm also poor and living on coupons and rebates to pay for My Older cars . Tool makers rule the World, and Keep the Snap on guy in Beer money ;D
Yes, it is possible to study and become a master of Pintosophy.. Not a religion , nothing less than a life quest for non conformity and rational thought. What Horse did you ride in on?

Check my Pinto Poems out...

Offline dick1172762

  • Vintage Pinto Racer
  • PCCA Management Board
  • Pinto Sr. Master
  • ******
  • Posts: 2623
  • FeedBack: +362/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • I'm a llama!

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User 1000 Posts Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Control arm
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2017, 09:47:33 AM »
If you can afford Snap On tools your not poor. Harbor Freight is the poor mans tools of today. I've got many tools from them with no problems or failures at all. And best of all, they will give you new ones if you do ever break one, just like Sears.
Its better to be a has-been, than a never was.

Offline dick1172762

  • Vintage Pinto Racer
  • PCCA Management Board
  • Pinto Sr. Master
  • ******
  • Posts: 2623
  • FeedBack: +362/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • I'm a llama!

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User 1000 Posts Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Control arm
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2017, 09:53:44 AM »
BTW! Dave1987 has posted in the past how he and his father built and used those tools to remove and replace all of the front end bushings. He has a zillion posts to look at to find them. Good luck.
Its better to be a has-been, than a never was.

Offline Pintosopher

  • 33yrs SCCA, 19yrs Egroups/PCCA ,40yrs enlightenment
  • PCCA Charter Member
  • Pinto Master
  • *
  • Posts: 2000
  • FeedBack: +383/-1
  • Gender: Male
  • Essses my Nirvana , Liberty to play, my mission

  • Total Badges: 9
    Badges: (View All)
    Mobile User Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter 1000 Posts Windows User Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary Photographer
Re: Control arm
« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2017, 03:44:28 PM »
If you can afford Snap On tools your not poor. Harbor Freight is the poor mans tools of today. I've got many tools from them with no problems or failures at all. And best of all, they will give you new ones if you do ever break one, just like Sears.
I was pulling your leg, None of my tools came from Snap On! Even My OTC Spring compressor came from Amazon. Very seldom do I buy a critical steel tool from Harbor. Some of my low pressure tools are cheap China knock offs.  I have found that finding the best tool quality at the best possible price is a good philosophy and cheap junk can get you hurt or embarassed :o

 We're all looking for Macy's at Kmart pricing.... LOL! ;D
Yes, it is possible to study and become a master of Pintosophy.. Not a religion , nothing less than a life quest for non conformity and rational thought. What Horse did you ride in on?

Check my Pinto Poems out...

Offline Wittsend

  • Pinto Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 2496
  • FeedBack: +241/-0

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Mobile User Topic Starter Poll Voter 1000 Posts Linux User Windows User Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Control arm
« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2017, 08:19:50 PM »
Ironically I just jot my first intentional Snap On item (see image 1) yesterday at the Mopar Fall Fling in Van Nuys. LOL


I have the Harbor Freight ball joint tool (fore front in second image). I got it years ago when I went to HF to pick up a $3 something. They were having a surprise sale and 30 minutes later I was calling the wife to take the seats out of the van and come on down because I was spending $300 (100 times my original intentions). I live about 10 miles from where HF had their main warehouse and every now and then they would have a "clean out the warehouse" sales. I did the math and concluded that my $300 bought me nearly $2,000 in tools, including the 60 gallon compressor for $80 and the lathe for $100.


HF tools are fine for the casual user. But, I prefer a used, quality tool if I can find it.

Offline dick1172762

  • Vintage Pinto Racer
  • PCCA Management Board
  • Pinto Sr. Master
  • ******
  • Posts: 2623
  • FeedBack: +362/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • I'm a llama!

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User 1000 Posts Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Control arm
« Reply #11 on: October 30, 2017, 11:23:29 AM »
WHAT A DEAL! You'll remember that one till you die. I really hate going to HF because I can't quit buying. A lot of it I can't remember later why I bought it. Saylavee for sure.
Its better to be a has-been, than a never was.