I just disassembled my front end and have run into a problem. The driver-side lower A-arm has a rectangular/elliptical bushing where the larger circular bushing should be. It is not the bushing only, for the bushing opening is the same rectangular/elliptical shape. The passenger side lower A-arm had both bushings as circular. Im guessing an A-arm from another car or year was put on as a replacement at some point. Here is my question, will any A-body from 70-72 have the same lower A-arms? There is an A-body at the local junkyard that I am going to see about tomorrow, but I wish to have some input before I pay a yard fee and roll around in the dirt for nothing.
Stupid me, I just looked through my OPG catalog and found that it is normal for the rear/larger bushing to be oval on the lower arms. I dont feel like waiting a week for a bushing to ship from CA. Is this something I can order at autozone or carquest?
Since it is OEM, you should be able to. MOOG one of the better brands, stay away from china stuff. You could post a thread here for the part number...Ask a specific question in the subject line. - Bill - Bill
you can look it up at rockauto.com. Do a google search for rockauto discount codes to find a 5% discount code you can use. Also, check amazon.com once you know the moog part number - sometimes they are cheapest.
Rock does not list MOOG, but you can cross from SPICER/RAYBESTOS Part # 5651018 and SPICER/RAYBESTOS Part # 5701008. Spicer may be OK too, check for made in USA label. Also it looks like the fwd bushing is round???? Double check those numbers....I'm no expert on 72s! - Bill
Someone may have smacked a curb good in it's life or did something else stupid and junkyarded the whole arm. or drove on it with a bad lower ball joint and screwed up the arm... whole lot of possibilities. Just get the older style and you should be all right. read here http://www.leverfamilysite.com/A-Body_three_types_of_lowers.htm
They have MOOG, However you have to search under Skylark. I don't know why . Some kind of catalog glitch i guess. But I just bought a set. DL
That is a deal. I would rather buy a new oval bushing for the A-arm i have but will the car handle funny running two different lower a-arms (a round passenger side vs. oval driver)?
I doubt you will feel a difference unless you are drifting or road racing... You will feel a significant improvement in handling and feel from the new bushings. However, since you are "spending the GN money to hot rod" the GS, have you considered an aftermarket (Global West, etc) front suspension upgrade? That will improve your geometry and really wake up your car to make it handle curves like a new car. Just a thought. - Bill
Yea I did consider tubular arms but they were beyond my budget for the time being. I did purchase the Hotchkis TVS system and a 4 wheel disc setup.
I'm no expert...But it should, 1969 Malibu is a 69 Chevelle is an A-Body and all the arms should interchange. Watch the position of the spring as that (the hole location) may differ. Put them side by side and check all the details. - Bill
SOME of the Moog stuff is made in Mexico...but not all apparently. Looks like they may be making the bushings down there and still making the ball joints here. That's what I see in the box of Moog parts that DL7265 just had shipped to me from RockAuto.com. I wouldn't give it too much worry as the bushings look to be the exact same as when they were Made In USA...good thick metal sleeves, etc. The '69 Malibu A Arm is the same and will work....do yourself a favor, however, and once you press the lower ball joint out clean all around that area (topside AND bottomside) REAL WELL to bare metal and check for any cracks. I've seen lower A-Arms cracked in that area before.
i would like to up grade to tubular arms as well,to include a disc brake set up on my 63'riveria...any compatible parts that i might consider?? i want my big heavy car to handle and stop well. i would also like to lower the front end a bit. ps new to buicks and this site. thanks
I would post a new thread on this part of the site referring to your Rivy in the title so more eyeballs might see it.
