replacing upper control arm shaft p30 chassis tips

Doug Domm · 06-04-2011, 01:20 AM

We need to replace the upper control arm shafts and bushings on our tow vehicle. It is a motorhome with the GM P30 chassis. Before tearing into the belly of the beast I was just wondering if anyone here has done this and can share any tips. It appears common in principal to passenger car stuff only bigger but I don't like surprises. Thanks Doug

Alan Roehrich · 06-04-2011, 12:09 PM

Most of the GM 30 series chassis used control arm bushings that screwed in to the A-arm rather than pressed in, you need a large heavy table with a good vice, and the right socket, with a ratchet or pull handle big enough to turn it.

Doug Domm · 06-13-2011, 11:47 PM

Ok, My son got the drivers side done now and it wasn't all that bad. Hopefully the passenger side will go the same. Perhaps all that greasy mess around it kept them from seizing in. Now my question is how do you determine when they need to be replaced. This motorhome has been imported from US to Canada and must go through a federal safety inspection and this was listed on the inspection sheet as a must replace due to wear. We compared the old part to the new part and there appears to be absolutely no differance between new and old. Yes, the shop likely tried to get some sort of work out of this but are we missing something here on inspecting the parts? The coach only has 30,000 miles on it and every front suspension piece feels tight with the exception of minimal movement in the bellcrank. Funny thing is they never noticed all the missing cotter pins! Doug

Mark Yacavone · 06-14-2011, 12:12 AM

Doug,
My P 30 chassis has over 100,000 miles. I grease everything a couple times a years.
Nothing has ever been replaced ,except for the shocks.

tj310 · 06-14-2011, 08:49 AM

Doug you just have to fix what the inspector tells you

. Make sure you recheck the torque on the adjustment bolts after you have driven it a bit. Like Mark said they will last forever if greased properly. Thanx Trevor

Doug Domm · 06-14-2011, 11:03 AM

Yes, we are replacing parts as instructed by the superior being ( certified gov't. inspector ) and I do routine maintenance and service on ALL of my stuff and do expect to get good service because of this. But, they insisted the shafts and bushings on both sides were worn out and didn't need to show me how they determined this, just fix it! End of discussion. My question is again. Am I missing something on checking this stuff for wear? I really don't think I am but would like to know how they may have come to this. With ball joint undone and control arm free there was no noticable play just a smooth up and down. No wear on control arm where bushing goes in and bushing threads smoothly and firmly onto shaft with no slop at all. I am taking replaced parts with me for the final inspection and will see if they can show me the problem. Frustrated! Doug

Alan Roehrich · 06-14-2011, 11:49 AM

Nope. It's just them exercising control over you. That stuff normally goes 200K +.

Mike Savelle · 06-14-2011, 01:36 PM

Doug Where did you take the vehicle for federal inspection ? Was it Canadian Tire ? Mike

Doug Domm · 06-14-2011, 01:57 PM

Mike,
It wasn't Canadian Tire. They don't do Heavy Chassis inspections here. It was one of our (approved) local large truck shops.

Mark Yacavone · 06-14-2011, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Domm

Yes, we are replacing parts as instructed by the superior being ( certified gov't. inspector ) and I do routine maintenance and service on ALL of my stuff and do expect to get good service because of this. But, they insisted the shafts and bushings on both sides were worn out and didn't need to show me how they determined this, just fix it! End of discussion. My question is again. Am I missing something on checking this stuff for wear? I really don't think I am but would like to know how they may have come to this. With ball joint undone and control arm free there was no noticable play just a smooth up and down. No wear on control arm where bushing goes in and bushing threads smoothly and firmly onto shaft with no slop at all. I am taking replaced parts with me for the final inspection and will see if they can show me the problem. Frustrated! Doug

Doug , Make sure you put the parts back together with some heavy duty wheel bearing grease.You know, the gold looking stuff you can cut with a knife.
Ask him to show you the wear or play .Then take a picture of his expression and post it here....
You've been "hosed" !

06-04-2011, 01:20 AM	#1
Doug Domm Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: canada Posts: 251 Likes: 29 Liked 84 Times in 21 Posts	replacing upper control arm shaft p30 chassis tips We need to replace the upper control arm shafts and bushings on our tow vehicle. It is a motorhome with the GM P30 chassis. Before tearing into the belly of the beast I was just wondering if anyone here has done this and can share any tips. It appears common in principal to passenger car stuff only bigger but I don't like surprises. Thanks Doug

06-04-2011, 12:09 PM	#2
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,111 Likes: 1,570 Liked 1,814 Times in 413 Posts	Re: replacing upper control arm shaft p30 chassis tips Most of the GM 30 series chassis used control arm bushings that screwed in to the A-arm rather than pressed in, you need a large heavy table with a good vice, and the right socket, with a ratchet or pull handle big enough to turn it. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

06-13-2011, 11:47 PM	#3
Doug Domm Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: canada Posts: 251 Likes: 29 Liked 84 Times in 21 Posts	Re: replacing upper control arm shaft p30 chassis tips Ok, My son got the drivers side done now and it wasn't all that bad. Hopefully the passenger side will go the same. Perhaps all that greasy mess around it kept them from seizing in. Now my question is how do you determine when they need to be replaced. This motorhome has been imported from US to Canada and must go through a federal safety inspection and this was listed on the inspection sheet as a must replace due to wear. We compared the old part to the new part and there appears to be absolutely no differance between new and old. Yes, the shop likely tried to get some sort of work out of this but are we missing something here on inspecting the parts? The coach only has 30,000 miles on it and every front suspension piece feels tight with the exception of minimal movement in the bellcrank. Funny thing is they never noticed all the missing cotter pins! Doug

06-14-2011, 12:12 AM	#4
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,815 Likes: 2,903 Liked 5,120 Times in 1,951 Posts	Re: replacing upper control arm shaft p30 chassis tips Doug, My P 30 chassis has over 100,000 miles. I grease everything a couple times a years. Nothing has ever been replaced ,except for the shocks. __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

06-14-2011, 08:49 AM	#5
tj310 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dresden On. Canada Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: replacing upper control arm shaft p30 chassis tips Doug you just have to fix what the inspector tells you . Make sure you recheck the torque on the adjustment bolts after you have driven it a bit. Like Mark said they will last forever if greased properly. Thanx Trevor

06-14-2011, 11:03 AM	#6
Doug Domm Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: canada Posts: 251 Likes: 29 Liked 84 Times in 21 Posts	Re: replacing upper control arm shaft p30 chassis tips Yes, we are replacing parts as instructed by the superior being ( certified gov't. inspector ) and I do routine maintenance and service on ALL of my stuff and do expect to get good service because of this. But, they insisted the shafts and bushings on both sides were worn out and didn't need to show me how they determined this, just fix it! End of discussion. My question is again. Am I missing something on checking this stuff for wear? I really don't think I am but would like to know how they may have come to this. With ball joint undone and control arm free there was no noticable play just a smooth up and down. No wear on control arm where bushing goes in and bushing threads smoothly and firmly onto shaft with no slop at all. I am taking replaced parts with me for the final inspection and will see if they can show me the problem. Frustrated! Doug

06-14-2011, 11:49 AM	#7
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,111 Likes: 1,570 Liked 1,814 Times in 413 Posts	Re: replacing upper control arm shaft p30 chassis tips Nope. It's just them exercising control over you. That stuff normally goes 200K +. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

06-14-2011, 01:36 PM	#8
Mike Savelle Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 369 Likes: 125 Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Re: replacing upper control arm shaft p30 chassis tips Doug Where did you take the vehicle for federal inspection ? Was it Canadian Tire ? Mike

06-14-2011, 01:57 PM	#9
Doug Domm Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: canada Posts: 251 Likes: 29 Liked 84 Times in 21 Posts	Re: replacing upper control arm shaft p30 chassis tips Mike, It wasn't Canadian Tire. They don't do Heavy Chassis inspections here. It was one of our (approved) local large truck shops.