I rebuilt my TCI MII front end (tubular control arms) in spite of the "if it ain't broke . ." adage. This isn't a job for the weak at heart. Unless you know they're bad, leave them be. But, if you must - you won't need to take anything loose that's going to mess up your alignment (toe-in, caster, camber.) There real challenge is getting the coil springs in and out (unless you have the coil-overs, then its a piece of cake). The rest of the job is relatively easy. This is, of course, easy for me to say; I did my rebuild on a bare frame. With the sheet metal and engine in place, it's going to make things a little more challenging.

Anyway - once you've got the coil spring compressed (use a tool, not a floor jack), take off the lower spindle nut and break the spindle loose from the lower a-arm. Take the nylock (replace them with new nylocks) off the long a-arm bolt, remove the lower arm and just tap out the bushings. The upper a-arm is different, you're not going to completely remove it. Take off the nylocks (again, replace the nylocks), and tap the bushings out of the control arm from the inside out. Leave the upper cross shaft in place unless you've got an alignment jig in your garage.


[b]1957 Chevy Big Window 3100[.b]

In the Stovebolt Gallery
More pix in Picasa

It ain't broke 'til you can't fix it any more.