Bent Upper Control Arm Bracket

[dandaly7566]

Hit a curb the other day and bent the lower control arm bracket. Any ideas on a fix? Bend it with a 24 inch crescent?

 

[Marshall]

What ever works, I had a huge old pipe wrench that was great for screw ups like this,
as long as you can get a bit on it.
Looks like a lower arm.
BTW I seen a clip of the new 1500 CA and looks like they went to plastic, any new owners had a look? I guess most of the trucks these days are going that direction.

 

[dandaly7566]

Good catch, lower arm. Should I heat it with a torch before bending it back? I dont think I'll be able to get the CA out without bending it and will probably destroy the bushing if I try heating it.

 

[Daw14]

A heavy flat chisel may be of help if there is enough room,
I would not be concerned with heat unless all other attempts fail.
I think the crescent wrench idea sound promising, again if it will fit the space

 

[olyelr]

Looks to me like you bent more than just that very bottom piece…looks like the entire front face of the mount is on an angle…like it pushed the entire vertical piece on a slight angle (not just the very bottom).

It would probably be better to completely remove the lower arm out of there to gain good access to it. Looks like if it was unbolted, you could lift it up high enough to slide it out.

 

[dandaly7566]

Thanks...do I need to completely remove the control arm or can I just unbolt it from both mounts? Im guessing I will have to remove the whole thing.

 

[Mlarv5]

If it not hitting the bushing, I would just leave it alone. If it is hitting the bushing, then drop the arm and bend it back with a what ever you can get the leverage with. It is most likely cold rolled steel so it should bend back pretty easy.

 

[jws123]

Thanks...do I need to completely remove the control arm or can I just unbolt it from both mounts? Im guessing I will have to remove the whole thing.

I would also get a alignment when your done also it will be way easier removing the whole thing up to you

 

[Marshall]

Back when I was messing with old stuff, ie my farm machinery, I had a good porta-power, hydraulic pump with different ends, one was a duck bill that may have worked in this case, depending on the pressure needed. I would think that will take a good bit of power, force to bend back. a heavy steel punch or the wrench would be a starting point.
I would not use heat, but if you do , you will have to get it apart first, then repaint after its done.

If you take apart , I would suppose you would have to pull the other bolt out to get enough movement, I have not tried it.
I presume that your alignment will go out if you take the bolts out.

 

[Wild one]

Hit a curb the other day and bent the lower control arm bracket. Any ideas on a fix? Bend it with a 24 inch crescent?
View attachment 569534

If it's not making any noise,i wouldn't even worry about it,until you need to do the lower balljoint,then bend it back when you have the arm off.

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

Try to straighten that ear W/ Vice grips, otherwise, leave it alone, you're talking a major job removing it that's attached to the Hub spindle, CV shaft, lower ball joint.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Easy fix, Just drop the control arm. a bit of head and bend it back. Not a major job at all.

 

[dandaly7566]

Thanks for all the help. I was able to move it a litte with the crescent wrench, which stopped the noise. Im going to leave it until that bushing starts making noise again and then swap out the control arm and bend it back.