[Bliss_Street]

I just pulled the back end out of the Catalina, and one of the many surprises I found was a very bent lower control arm.



Given that they aren't the strongest to begin with, and that the metal quality is of 1960s vintage, bending them back isn't really an option.

Can anyone suggest a reputable source for either a OEM or an after market replacement?

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I see the performance years has a boxed in control arm and rear sway bar for a '69-'72 GP. Anyone know if those will fit?

[68Prix]

Ram Air Restorations has tubular rear suspension kit with sway bar, or PM I have some originals that I will part with. Pat

[smittyseng]

Originally Posted by 68Prix

Ram Air Restorations has tubular rear suspension kit with sway bar, or PM I have some originals that I will part with. Pat

My stock ones were junk too, this one was actually rusted thru, bent and ready to fall apart. The R.A.R ones are REAL beefy, I just got done installing there kit (TODAY) on my 66 Bonneville, was impressed with the workmanship , only glitch is sway bar is lower to ground than I like and I am going to do some tweaking on it, Smitty

[Bliss_Street]

Originally Posted by smittyseng

My stock ones were junk too, this one was actually rusted thru, bent and ready to fall apart. The R.A.R ones are REAL beefy, I just got done installing there kit (TODAY) on my 66 Bonneville, was impressed with the workmanship , only glitch is sway bar is lower to ground than I like and I am going to do some tweaking on it, Smitty

Thanks for the first hand feedback. Did the kit come with bushings to fit the differential housing, or did they have to be ordered separately? I can see that there are bushings at the frame side of the arms.

I'm actually leaning towards this kit. I found another set from PMT, but the Ram Air kit has the benefit of having a sway bar and connectors. My only (tiny) concern is that it would be over kill for what we are doing (very tiny concern).

Is the way bar lower to the ground because it was designed to fit multiple differentials? Or is it more that it's a personal preference?

[smittyseng]

Originally Posted by Bliss_Street

Thanks for the first hand feedback. Did the kit come with bushings to fit the differential housing, or did they have to be ordered separately? I can see that there are bushings at the frame side of the arms.

I'm actually leaning towards this kit. I found another set from PMT, but the Ram Air kit has the benefit of having a sway bar and connectors. My only (tiny) concern is that it would be over kill for what we are doing (very tiny concern).

Is the way bar lower to the ground because it was designed to fit multiple differentials? Or is it more that it's a personal preference?

You have to buy the 4 bushings for your axle, as flimsy as my factory cross member was that my upper arms attached to I am glad that it came with the braces , there is going to be extra stress when the sway bar makes both sides try to swing parallel and it is going to help for that. I'm now thinking that even though the lower swing arms appear they can only be mounted on way that they are flipped which moved the sway bar down so the low sway bar may be self induced!!!! I will be trying to flip them and see what that does in next few days, Smitty