Are The '73-'76 Upper Control Arms The Same For Disk And Drums

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NO, they are not. The 73-76 drum brake cars were small bolt pattern which had the small ball joint control arm. They used the small bolt pattern all the way to 1976 in the A bodies and with that, retained the small ball joints which used the small hole upper control arm.
 
StrokerScamp said:
NO, they are not. The 73-76 drum brake cars were small bolt pattern which had the small ball joint control arm. They used the small bolt pattern all the way to 1976 in the A bodies and with that, retained the small ball joints which used the small hole upper control arm.
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StrokerScamp:
You are correct about certain things, and you are wrong about others.
The 1973 to 1976 A body cars were all big ball joint, wether it had drum brakes or disc brakes. It made no difference what so ever.
You are right in the statement that drum brake cars, were the small 4 inch bolt pattern in 73 to 76.
 
hemi71x said:
StrokerScamp:
You are correct about certain things, and you are wrong about others.
The 1973 to 1976 A body cars were all big ball joint, wether it had drum brakes or disc brakes. It made no difference what so ever.
You are right in the statement that drum brake cars, were the small 4 inch bolt pattern in 73 to 76.
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x2

Although...I have seen one '73 Duster (verified by the VIN and built Sept '72) in a junkyard with KH disc brakes w/small bolt pattern and small ball joint UCAs. Wish I'd taken pics.
 
hemi71x said:
StrokerScamp:
You are correct about certain things, and you are wrong about others.
The 1973 to 1976 A body cars were all big ball joint, wether it had drum brakes or disc brakes. It made no difference what so ever.
You are right in the statement that drum brake cars, were the small 4 inch bolt pattern in 73 to 76.
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Ok.....well let me say this then. My 73 scamp musta had the drum brakes swapped out on the front for more drum brakes. It had small bolt pattern suspension with small ball joint upper control arms. Disc brakes were not on the build sheet or fender tag, so somebody swapped drum for drum. How stupid does that sound to you? If I am wrong, I stand corrected. It won't be the last time.
 
StrokerScamp said:
Ok.....well let me say this then. My 73 scamp musta had the drum brakes swapped out on the front for more drum brakes. It had small bolt pattern suspension with small ball joint upper control arms. Disc brakes were not on the build sheet or fender tag, so somebody swapped drum for drum. How stupid does that sound to you? If I am wrong, I stand corrected. It won't be the last time.
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It is possible that a very early build 73, during the first week or two, of production, could have squeaked by, with the small ball joint UCA and small hole spindle.
But everything else was a large ball joint upper A arm.
 
russduanegreen said:
Then what makes the 73 - 76 disc and drum a arms different
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That's a very good question. The upper and lower ball joints and the lower control arms are all listed "one type only" in the '74 FPC, but the upper arms are showing different P/Ns for disc vs. drum. Don't have my '76 FPC in front of me right now to see what might be listed there.
 
hemi71x said:
It is possible that a very early build 73, during the first week or two, of production, could have squeaked by, with the small ball joint UCA and small hole spindle.
But everything else was a large ball joint upper A arm.
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Hay, that would certainly splain it. My apoligies for the mistake.
 
For what it is worth I just checked at Rock Auto, only one upper ball joint is listed for a 74 Dart......
 
So '73-'75 ('76 cars had disks standard) with 9" drums had small ball joint upper control arms while 10" drum cars had large upper ball joints? I think I read some where that 10" drum spindles are the same as disk brake spindles.
 
ibleedmoparts said:
how do i identify whether i have a large or small upper ball joint?
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There are a couple of backyard methods that you can use to determine large, or small joint, upper control arms.
If your going wrecking yarding, or not sure of what you have, here is one way to tell.
Put a wrench on the nut of the ball joint stud that connects it to the spindle.
If the nut takes a 7/8 wrench, or socket, it's a large ball joint.
Ok you say, what do i do if the nut isn't on the ball joint stud?
Measure the diameter of the threaded portion of the stud by putting an open wrench over the threads.
If it's a 9/16 stud, you have a large ball joint.
I don't have a small ball joint upper control arm here at home, but the stud diameter and nut is smaller on those.
Maybe some other member will chime in and post.
Or if the ball joint is completely out of the UCA, measure the diameter of the opening.
But i don't have any UCA's with the ball joints out of them, so i can't give you those measurements.
The diameters are different between small, and large ball joints.
If i go over to my storage locker, i will measure some small ball joint UCA's and ammend this posting.
Jim V.

Update:
The small ball joint diameter of the threaded portion of the stud is 7/16 inch.
So then, small ball joint 7/16, large ball joint 9/16.
 
are the 10 inch drum spindles the same for discs???
 
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