Worn Radius arm and bracket Have a ?

[hjalbert]

Well here is a picture of the bracket and the radius arm. This is the drievrs side, the passenger side was not this bad. Will this cause premature wear of the new bushings I was going to install? Should I replace the bracket and radius arm?? If so, should I buy new (and where from), or pull off of a parts truck? Any one got a set of these brackets and arms they want to sell?

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[82fordtruck]

I can't see the pictures. You could build them up with weld and grind them smooth though.

 

[Mr_Roboto]

I can't see the pics either. If there is wear on the arm, you might want to get a pair off of a junkyard truck. A cutting torch will make quick work of removal...

 

[hjalbert]

can you see them now?

Can any one see them now? I can see them, maybe the bandwidth is not quite wide enough sometimes from the site they are hosted on.

 

[hjalbert]

Any way, I reinstalled them as is with the new bushings because I have to have my truck tommorow. I will try building it up with weld first and then grinding smooth, if that does not work I will buy from a junker. Thanks for the input!!!

 

[f-two-fiddy]

Holy Crap!

You got some use outta those parts. How long has that thing been clunking?

 

[gabbyr100rs]

Either rehab your existing parts or put in different ones or your new bushings will be toast in a very short while from being chewed up by the worn out arm and bracket!

How many miles were on those parts? Was there anything left of the old bushings?

 

[hjalbert]

I have only Owned the truck for about a month. the previous owner did not really do any maintenance from what I can tell. Supposedly the truck has 196,*** But I think it may be more based on stuff like this. Its an 85. I guess I am going to need to buy a cutting torch, as I agree, that is the fastest way to remove something.

 

[gabbyr100rs]

Just keep at it, bit by bit, and pretty soon you'll have a truck that you can be justly proud of. With the right care, they will keep going and going....and turn in performance worthy of much more expensive alternatives!

 

[Mr_Roboto]

I have only Owned the truck for about a month. the previous owner did not really do any maintenance from what I can tell. Supposedly the truck has 196,*** But I think it may be more based on stuff like this. Its an 85. I guess I am going to need to buy a cutting torch, as I agree, that is the fastest way to remove something.

You can get a oxy-acetylene torch with the mini-tanks that are a lot easier to take to the boneyard etc. I've seen em at Home Depot, maybe cheaper at other places.

 

[towcat]

I use a air hammer and a chisel attachment. Your pics are very common with towtrucks. I just did a set on a '86 F350. I have two more trucks to tackle as time allows. Oh yea, after knocking out the rivets, I use frame bolts as a replacement. If you do use grade 8 bolts, make sure you loctite the heck out of them.