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Rear upper control arm bushings. |
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Anderslober 
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Joined: 30-July-2019 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 763 |
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 Topic: Rear upper control arm bushings.Posted: 24-November-2022 at 12:48AM |
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Hi forum. I managed to get the rear upper/lower controls of today. That was a fest of sawsall, grinder, breaker bars, wd40, heat,etc!
Anyway….what bushings do you fellas use for the rear UPPER arms? (Competition susp.) I cant seem to find the correct type. I will use poly only if I have to….I prefer ‘normal’ rubber. Thanks |
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pyntre
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 1:08AM |
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Congratulations on the win !!
What year vehicle is it again? |
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72FordGTS
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 1:30AM |
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The competition control arm bushings for the upper arms are not reproduced and not available for replacement. Most have replaced these arms with the standard arms as a result. For the rear, you can only get rubber for the lower arms. Otherwise, the only complete set of lower and upper arms bushings are energy suspensions poly kits. These kits only work with the standard upper arms, not the competition arms. The poly are available in black, so they look like the original rubber, and they also greatly tighten up the rear suspension, more so than the competition arms your car has.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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Anderslober
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 1:37AM |
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Shucks…….not available….crud! Can that really be true??? The upper rear bushings were shot, also the housings.
Now what…? Are poly available WITH housings? |
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72FordGTS
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 1:41AM |
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I'd get a set of used of the standard (non-competition) upper arms and the black poly set. Talk to CaliforniaJohnny, he might have a set of upper arms to sell you with the original bushings in place so you still have the shells as well. Then just burn out the rubber.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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Anderslober
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 1:45AM |
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Spohnperformance arms?…….ouch…
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72FordGTS
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 1:55AM |
Those would be the ultimate performance solution for sure, but you lose the original look. They will help eliminate the 4-link bind and allow for adjustable pinion angle. Top shelf stuff for sure.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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Anderslober
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 2:40AM |
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Just the upper Spohn arms…….
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Anderslober
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 6:48AM |
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Are there really no options for the competition arms?…😑
The hole in arm measures 1.524 in. Or 38.73mm… There has to be some bushing out there that fits……..
Edited by Anderslober - 24-November-2022 at 7:00AM |
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72 RS 351
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 8:40AM |
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There are urethane bushings available, but the suspension design makes those less desirable. The rubber allows some movement in off axis directions, the urethane creates a little binding. I think the Spohn arms are the best possible solution for mild or competition uses.
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000+ rpm 351-4V &4R70W 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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Rockatansky
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 2:08PM |
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72 GT Ute
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Compton
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 6:24PM |
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That’s how I did it when I rebuilt the arms…found it out by accident when the drill bit got caught but works sweet…
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Anderslober
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 9:01PM |
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I have the bushings/housings removed already. They could not be saved. So, I cant use the poly….as the original housings have to reused
Anyway…..I have been doing A LOT of web-surfing for a possible replacement. I have bought to slightly different 39mm(diameter) bushings……..I will post back if I can get them to fit nicely. The original bushing center rod width is 60mm x 14mm(hole). New possible replacement is 55mm x 14mm…….we shall see… |
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Anderslober
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Posted: 24-November-2022 at 9:05PM |
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Regarding the Spohn upper arms….by the time I have them in hand in Denmark, they will cost me upwards +500usd…ouch!
I am willing to try to experiment a little before such a huge outlay!
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1973gts
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Posted: 25-November-2022 at 4:10AM |
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Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the problem with the upper competition arm bushings is that they are spherical and not standard shape which is why there is a problem using regular bushings? I know when I was trying to find replacements for my upper arms there was nothing I found that would work which is why I went with the Spohn set up. So far they are a great improvement and I am very happy with them.
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Dave - 1973 GTS N code
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pyntre
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Posted: 25-November-2022 at 4:18AM |
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Didn’t know you were in another country , yeah that adds to the
stress of getting parts for sure ! I forget this is an international hobby sometimes!! |
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Anderslober
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Posted: 25-November-2022 at 4:34AM |
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Spherical?…….holes look round to me….
Ok…first lets establish this IS a competition suspension arm…  Edited by Anderslober - 25-November-2022 at 4:43AM |
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Anderslober
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Posted: 25-November-2022 at 4:44AM |
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Another pic….
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Anderslober
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Posted: 25-November-2022 at 4:44AM |
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Holes….
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Anderslober
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Posted: 25-November-2022 at 4:45AM |
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Hole..
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72FordGTS
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Posted: 25-November-2022 at 11:55AM |
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Those are competition arms. The regular arms have much bigger bushings and they are round rather than squared off like those. Good luck trying to get a bushing to work. If you do, you'll be the first. Otherwise, using poly with a set of used standard arms is likely a much cheaper solution than the spohn arms. Keep in mind using all rubber on a 4-speed car will likely result in wheel hop. Poly or Spohn arms seems to fix the wheel hop.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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Anderslober
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Posted: 25-November-2022 at 7:09PM |
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What do you mean by ‘squared of’? The holes look perfectly round to me…..what am I missing?
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72FordGTS
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Posted: 25-November-2022 at 9:49PM |
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I am not talking about the bushing hole, I am talking about the arm itself. The standard arms are much more round, as if they are made from a round bar.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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Anderslober
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Posted: 26-November-2022 at 2:54AM |
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Ohhhhhhh…….ok….gotcha
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Anderslober
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Posted: 04-December-2022 at 11:49PM |
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A possible solution perhaps!
I got the 40mm Meyle bushing today. I was able to push it in solidly. See picture……this initial test bushing seems to work fine. I will buy 4 more and do a complete install. I think it may work. Thanks.  |
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Anderslober
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Posted: 04-December-2022 at 11:57PM |
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Another picture…bushing pushed in a bit further. Seems like a nice fit.
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Anderslober
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Posted: 13-December-2022 at 6:30AM |
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WtH!…I ran into a small problem. Are the mounting bolts different?..? The front bolt seems bigger/thicker than the rear bolt…?
What size is the the rear mounting bolt? It is of course only for the rear upper control arm. |
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californiajohnny
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Posted: 14-December-2022 at 9:59PM |
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rear arms have 2 different size bolts, i don't remember which is which? lowers are bigger i think than the uppers??? did you have to chop your old bolts out? i should have several good originals if you need...
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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Anderslober
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Posted: 15-December-2022 at 7:46PM |
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Afaict, the two lower arm bolts and the front upper arm bolt are the same. Only the rear upper arm bolt is different. I put in an m12 bolt/80mm……..fit perfectly.
I am though quite tempted by the Spohn arms or the PMT arms. I have got a lot done on the car these past few days…..engine/alt/starter is back in…..all new brake and fuel lines. All new suspension……addco went in perfectly….all new brakes……I am ready to put the front clip on and the fenders/front/hood very soon. |
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Anderslober wrote: