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I am still working on my 1950 Custom, body is back on frame and the rear end has been reassembled. Now it's time to reassemble front suspension. Shop manual refers to now obsolete Miller C-608 Upper control arm spreader tool and similar tool for the lower control arm. This tool suppose to spread control arm about .016" to relieve pressure on treads during bushing installation. So far I was unable to locate any of these tools or find any replacements. Does anyone here know how to reassemble upper/lower control arms without these tools or what other tools may be used?
Thanks,
- Igor.
I have been able to reassemble the arms on my 47, which is similar to yours, without any special tools. It seemed to go together without any problems. Use anti-seize on the coarse threads. Make sure the upper adjustable pin is centered in the arm and the high point is at 12:00. That way it will be close when you go to align the front end. One caution is that it will be hard to compress the springs to get the arms back on the frame without an engine etc. The car will want to lift off the jack stands. I never found a spring compressor that would fit without interference. Maybe someone else can suggestion one. What I did was place my floor jack under the lower arm, run a chain snug around the frame and jack, then compress the spring and arm with the jack. I'm sure it's not OSHA approved but it has worked several times for me. Good luck.
Tim
Tim Mabry
The Lost Cause Garage
47 Suburban
57 Sportsman 4dr HT
Tim, thank you for the advise, I'll try that.
- Igor.
