Bushings & Ball Joints

Glen, I agree it can be hard to get to them, but it's still easier, at least for me! If you leave the nuts on, out at the end of the bolt, you can use a long wobble-socket/extension set-up, and whack it from the opposite side of the car.
Anyway, here's a diagram of the control arm bolts
These bolts have a serrated area by the heads, to hold them tight in the chassis/frame. If you do take the bolts out, remember to re-orient them back when you re-install.

 so they are serated like the rear shock mounts or wheel studs ...Thanks again..

Joel... is that diagram from the assembly manual... if so.. I need to buy one of those for my 73

Just ordered from Zip's

 

2 cruzn38877.871875

Yeppers, Ray, its an AIM pic.
I highly recommend everyone with a 'Vette have one. They're invaluable for seeing how this or that part is supposed to go, and for the specs.

Sorry I haven't been on much the last few days.   I jsut completely rebuilt the front end of my 75.  Everything in the suspension and steering except the power steering piston.

If you have any more questions or wish a detailed discription let me know.

On the lower ball joints... If all I'm replacing is the ball joints... do I have to worry about the spring?

No, just raise the car till the wheel is hanging free maybe 6-8" off the ground, place stands under frame, jack up the lower a-arm almost to where it starts to lift the frame off the stands, you do not want to lift the frame off the stands, now put a stand under the lower a-arm and let it down on the stand, I also leave the jack under the lower a-arm for a little more safety, now you can loosen the lower BJ nut, do not remove till you see that it has been loosen from the knockle, remov the nut, the upper arm should be able to come down enough to swing the knockle out and up out of the way, start drilling, those rivits are hard hard, it was hard doing em on the bench, step drill and try not to make the holes bigger than it takes to get the bolts in

Yeah just did mine...

I took my control arms to Tidewater Corvette and had him press the bushings since I don't have a press. The ball joints weren't hat difficult but I was in a sling and could only observe my B-I-L while he did the work...

 Sorry about being so late...still in Europe...

 BTW, any suggestions how to get the front end down more. It's still riding high IMHO. Can't loosen the end bolts with the Arms installed or am I missing a secret..

BTW, I forgot to mention , leave the shocks in, I forget a lot of things lately.

JimG

I tightened the end bolts on the cross shafts after the vette was on the ground. It takes some work and patients but can be done. I left the shroud loose so I could move it around and used a box end wrench. One thing I have learned, nothing is easy on these vettes.

Thanks Joel on the tip using a socket and extension to drive the studs out.