FAQ: Lower Control Arms & Bushings 1995/1996/1997/1998/1999

Depends on the year. The later years ('98-99) fit those models, but the '95-97 Riviera control arms do not swap.

ok. thanks for that.
btw if anyone is interested ill have the formula in a week or so to fab up delrin bushings for the rear arms.if someone wants a set let me know. just as soon as i come up with the dimensions and all that.
it looks like the rears are the same for first gen and 2nd.

I'm weighing some options on control arms as I prepare for a 1998 cradle swap into my 1997. I have a set of not-bad looking control arms off a 2000 bonneville which, to the best of my knowledge, are the same as the 1998-99 riv arms.

I've read through this thread and unless I'm misunderstanding, you guys are saying you can replace the bushings in the 98-99 front control arms? Where do you get the bushings from? At rockauto, I see they have the full dressed control arms available for 98-99, but I don't see any bushings at all. They show up for the 1997.

One thing I'm really trying to investigate is whether or not the back bushing on the 98-99 front arm is the same as the 97 one. Obviously the front side is totally different but the back one looks the same to the naked eye. If that is actually the case, there's a very good chance that the poly bushings that zzp sells for the w-body's can fit the rear location on those control arms. That is provided rockauto is accurate about the part numbers for those bushings on the 1997 riviera control arms - they are the same part number as what the w-body's have. Raybestos part# 5651163

I guess I can dig around the bonneville forums to see if they have any such info but that kind of adds more confusion since they aren't necessarily year-for-year on suspension equipment with a riviera either.

Ask billboast,on the bonniepro fourm,he just did all that you want to to his buick regal

billboost

probably one of the top 5 knowledgeable 3800 guys around.

talk with bill.

Also, i have some of the rear lca bushings brand new if you want them. Cover shipping is all i ask. You can then comapre them with what you have now.

I think this is a useful place to put this since this topic includes repairing control arms.
I took my arms from the 2000 bonne and sandblasted them. Excellent results - they look brand new


what I started with - looks like a CV joint took a shit all over it


I cleaned that up with solvent and a wire brush
I would have been fine with that but then I figured what the hell. I had a 60lb bucket of blasting sand not getting used anymore.


before & after


both done


woops! don't shoot yourself with it

Finally got around to do my front bushings.. Ordered the moog kit with both bushings. The front bushing came out with little trouble with an air hammer. The back bushing well thats a different story, but got it done. Thanks to a press and some sockets, then a vise. I wish i had the time to take pics of the job, but i was at my buddies shop and had someone waiting to get in.

95rivy wrote:

Finally got around to do my front bushings.. Ordered the moog kit with both bushings. The front bushing came out with little trouble with an air hammer. The back bushing well thats a different story, but got it done. Thanks to a press and some sockets, then a vise. I wish i had the time to take pics of the job, but i was at my buddies shop and had someone waiting to get in.

I feel your pain. I wouldnt wish that job on my best friend.

You guys with a 1998/1999 FSM, what's the torque specs for the control arm to cradle mount points (the control arm bushings)?

thanks!

Dude, you could have just called me man.........wtf

Front Bolt = 93 ft/lbs
Rear Bolt = 117 ft/lbs

The "proper" way to do it is put the bolts in....don't tighten. Install the ball joint-to-knuckle and sway bar links. Lower the car (with control arm bolts loose). Tighten the the rear control arm nut first, then the front. GM says to do it this way......lol

Makes sense as the control arms must have a sort of home position where the outside of the bushings should be tightened against the inside of the brackets, no?

thanks Scott

Nice post Codith!

turtleman wrote:

Makes sense as the control arms must have a sort of home position where the outside of the bushings should be tightened against the inside of the brackets, no?

thanks Scott

Basically yes. You do it this way to ensure that the trim height is the same from side to side.

Left - 1997 Right - 1998/1999

just posting the pic for reference

any weight difference?

no there shouldn't be any difference in weight .

I didn't weight the two but I'd say they're about the same based on what they felt like in my hands.

turtleman wrote:

Left - 1997 Right - 1998/1999

just posting the pic for reference

Do you still have that 97 off of your car? Would you be willing to lend it out for a bit?

The Roadmaster wrote:

turtleman wrote:

Left - 1997 Right - 1998/1999

just posting the pic for reference

Do you still have that 97 off of your car? Would you be willing to lend it out for a bit?

Yes but I'll need it back at some point. I kept it so that I could confirm fitment of the w-body poly bushing for the back because I believe it could be the same size. I haven't gone and done that yet so it sits. If you want to barrow it for something, cool. What are ya gonna do?

turtleman wrote:

Yes but I'll need it back at some point. I kept it so that I could confirm fitment of the w-body poly bushing for the back because I believe it could be the same size. I haven't gone and done that yet so it sits. If you want to barrow it for something, cool. What are ya gonna do?

I'm going to pound some pavement with it in hand. There are some suppliers around here that I would like to go visit and see if there isn't another application that works. There may be a like application without a GM part number for another vehicle or piece of equipment.

I did some work for McLaren Performance locally, I'm sure one of those guys would have an idea or 2.

Here's their website: http://www.mclarenperformance.com/eportal/default.aspx

I doubt an obsolete part ever held them back from anything.

Turtleman .... look for a PM, we're going to go in a different direction with this.

For anyone else following this thread, if you would kindly advise me of any other vehicle models & makes that were affected by the Amcast parts void we may have a solution. I know some of you have posted issues with the 98-99 rear bushings not being available. Dimensions of the bushings is helpful, but a control arm with the bushings is better yet. You'll get your arm back.

I have contacted a manufacturer that has shown interest in providing these bushings for us ... just need to do some volume to make it go. I have the manufacturer following this thread so they will be up to speed in no time. We need to get them samples of the obsolete parts.

Affected by the bushings for 97 Riviera include 97 Park Avenue (some models) and 97 Olds Aurora. If you know anyone on the Aurora forum they may want to get in on this once we're past the planning stage, which is where we're at now. Need to generate some interest in this project to make it cost effective.

Does the 1997 Regal's control arm fits the 1996 Riviera?

On the rockauto.com site they seem to be pretty much the same as the 96 Riviera

I do remember seeing those listed under 1996 Riviera but they no longer list them, they were the MEVOTECH Part # MS20329 for the left side and the MEVOTECH Part # MS20328 for the right side.



I assume the 97 Riviera's control arm fits the 96's, but rockauto shows the control arm as being from the 1998

I am still amazed that GM expects us to buy a new arm whenever the original takes a crap!? Any one who has tried to replace either the vertical or the horizontal bushing themselves knows what I'm talking about.It's a f.....g joke.

By the time you add up the price of the bushings and ball joint, the complete arm is not a bad deal, and saves a ton of labor. I did both sides and the car rides beautifully after.

Not that I agree with the principle - you should be able to service wear items, but it's not so bad.

I bought the complete GM arms from monsterpartsonline.com, I think the price was around $200 each at the time. I know it's more than the parts alone, but there was much less labor involved in swapping them out.