Suspension Rebuild Dilemma!

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scooby67

scooby67

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I have a 72 Dart with a 440. I need new upper/lower ball joints, control arm bushings, etc.....
It currently has single piston, non-power front brakes, which I assume were added later, since those were a 73 and later caliper. Years ago, when I had to replace the idler arm, a 72 didn't fir, so I went with a 73+, which worked fine. (Still have a clearance issue the E body oil pan!)
So here's my issue: What ball joints and bushings do I purchase? The lower ball joints look like 73+ pieces. Does that mean the control arm bushings are later model, too, or not necessarily?
I've attached pics. Hope someone can assist me. Thanks!

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You have the 73 up steering link so my best guess is you would need the K772 size uppers and 73 up disc brake lowers, idler.tierods and pitman arm.
 
Thanks! What about control arm bushings? Or could those be the original 72 components?
 
Control arm bushings are the same regardless of '72 or '73. Actually they're the same for the whole run, '67-76. You should buy a set of Moog K7103 offset bushings for the uppers anyway.

Looks like most of what you have is '73+. The steering is, the UCA is, the lower ball joint is, etc. The control arm bushings are the same anyway, the difference is the ball joints, tie rod ends, pitman/idler arms, etc.

The only thing you might need to source separately are the strut rod bushings, those aren't pictured and more than likely they're the '72 parts.
 
Standard bushings are the same. I would use the Moog Offset upper bushings over the standard bushings.
 
Thanks! That helps a lot! So I'll go with 73+ upper and lower ball joints, 60-76 control arm bushings and new upper cam bolts.
I wonder if the pitman arm is pre 72, thus causing the oil pan clearance issue??
 
As far as oil pan clearance goes you probably have some type of adaptor motor mounts in there. you can maybe shim the mounts if pre 72 biskit type but if it was my car I would custom shape the pan with a ballpeen hammer and touch up the paint.
 
mod5v said:
As far as oil pan clearance goes you probably have some type of adaptor motor mounts in there. you can maybe shim the mounts if pre 72 biskit type but if it was my car I would custom shape the pan with a ballpeen hammer and touch up the paint.
Click to expand...

I thought about the ball peen customization plan!! Lol!!
 
scooby67 said:
Thanks! That helps a lot! So I'll go with 73+ upper and lower ball joints, 60-76 control arm bushings and new upper cam bolts.
I wonder if the pitman arm is pre 72, thus causing the oil pan clearance issue??
Click to expand...

Nope. The joint on the '72 down pitman is opposite from the 73+ pitman. The '72 down pitman points up (comes up through the steering link from the bottom), the '73 up pitman points down.
 
72bluNblu said:
Nope. The joint on the '72 down pitman is opposite from the 73+ pitman. The '72 down pitman points up (comes up through the steering link from the bottom), the '73 up pitman points down.
Click to expand...

I understand. So changing the '73 arm to a '72 would not lower the center link, thus providing more oil pan clearance.
 
is your lower shock bolt installed correctly...it does matter but i can't remember why or which way is correct?
 
72bluNblu said:
Nope. The joint on the '72 down pitman is opposite from the 73+ pitman. The '72 down pitman points up (comes up through the steering link from the bottom), the '73 up pitman points down.
Click to expand...
Wasn't the change made in '72 not '73 or am I mistaken?
 
The pictures show a 73 and newer pitman arm. The way I would remember the early to late model, (72 and back and 73 and up) is, "Early up" . Meaning the pitman arm stud faces up for 72 and earlier.
 
scooby67 said:
I understand. So changing the '73 arm to a '72 would not lower the center link, thus providing more oil pan clearance.
Click to expand...

Nope. They can't be mixed because the taper in the center link goes in the opposite direction.

kiss said:
Wasn't the change made in '72 not '73 or am I mistaken?
Click to expand...

Roy covered it, but the change was '73. Same time as the large ball joint UCA's, single piston disks, body style update, etc.
 
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