Isn't it nice when form actually follows function? The factory built lots of good parts for your truck as a production vehicle to work hard-not to look great going down the street while riding inches above it. One of the things often overlooked on trucks is their generally greasy and dirty upper and lower control arms.
Every truck with an IFS has them and they are usually stamped steel from the factory and mounted to the front crossmember with rubber bushings on a cross- shaft. Most people pay attention to the other parts secured by the control arms like ball joints, spindles, and brakes, but not the arms themselves. To be honest with you, neither had I until I noticed the beating the lower control arms on my '72 Chevy C10 were taking from bottoming out. The front lower edge of the control arms sure were getting scraped up from the truck being so low, but what can you do?
Years ago, people used to cut and step control arms to help lower the truck and you could box them, but that's a lot of work, especially if they're already getting hammered. The thing most people don't realize is that while the lowers are getting scraped up, the front lower edge of the control arm is actually being pealed back every time it hits the pavement-not good. That lower front edge could also catch on something in the road and possibly rip the control arm or worse.
Luckily there's a fix. Classic Performance Products (CPP) has been making tubular control arms for cars and trucks for many years now to solve these problems. CPP's Totally Tubular control arms for '63-87 Chevy trucks address the aforementioned problems and more. They are made of heavy-wall tubing that is far more rigid than stamped, unboxed steel, and they mount all their control arms with patented self-lubricating, squeak-free bushings that are superior to rubber or urethane. Their design helps reduce damage due to bottoming out on the road and will work with any of the stock Chevy ball joints from '63-87 as well as stock power steering systems. CPP also uses a graduated bumpstop that provides more suspension travel and a better ride for those pushing the limits, but of course can be used in an otherwise stock truck. CPP also makes them to accept convoluted airbags.
Here are CPP's Totally Tubular upper and lower control arms for '63-87 Chevy trucks. They are designed with 5 degrees more caster than stock for a better road feel and so that the steering would return to center quicker. They also have patented self-lubricating bushings that will outlast rubber and urethane and remain squeak-free from day one.
One last improvement over the OE parts is that CPP's engineers incorporated five more degrees of cast in the upper control arms for a more positive road feel and so the steering would return to center quicker. GM did this design change starting in '73 so the steering actually had feedback from the road instead of being very light since the introduction of power steering to the GM line.
CPP stocks most OE and performance suspension and steering parts for your truck, so you can rebuild your complete frontend and have peace of mind. Think about pairing CPP's Totally Tubular control arms with a front sway bar to really make your truck ride, well, less like an old lowered truck! See how Classic Performance Products can help you and your truck.
