I could use some help getting a lower control arm back on. The manual notes to put the front part on first but its not going very well for me. I thought a jack may make it easier but I thought I'd ask for some advice first from someone that may have more experience than me. Any advise would be appreciated. thanks

 

what kind of problems are you running into? put the body side in first and you shouldn't have any problems...just don't tighten the bolt down until after you have the axle side in place.

 

its not lining up with the bolt holes. it took some finessing to get it out and it doesnt want to go back in and lign up at all.

 

ok...IIRC, I had a similar problem with my driver side one. Are you lca's adjustable? If they are, put the body side in and then adjust it until you can get it to line up with the axle side...if not, I honestly don't know what to tell you.

 

No, theyre not adjustable. the problem im having is getting the bushing end to push into the frame bracket. it just isnt going in easily. not sure if i need to force it in or not.

 

If you have poly busings they will be hard to put in.. I use engine oil to lube the the metal and the bushings.. you will have to use some force.. good luck

 

how did you force them in? i was thinking a jack would help but i dont want to screw anything up.

 

I think we had to tap on mine a little bit with a hammer...dont pound away at it or you will damage them.

 

When I got poly bushings, I had the same problem as you. I found that using the bushing grease liberally, and then hitting them with a mallet did the trick. The key here is the grease, made it ten times easier. Hope that helps.

 

Spread the brackets out a little; either by bending them with big pliers or something, or tap them apart with a hammer. Don't pound on the LCA, or use a jack, or any of that. That's pretty Neanderthal when the solution is so simple.

The key here is to use your brain.

 

no disrespect but i dont think you can just bend the lca mount bracket with pliers. ill try the additional lubrication and hope it assists.

 

I would just grease them then use a rubber mallet i wouldnt bend anything.

 

It's REAL easy to bend them. You might be surprised. And a whole lot safer and generally less Neanderthal than beating or pressing the LCA in.

 

...and the bracket will bend back when you bolt the lca in.

 

I had the same problem w/my poly bushings; the rear leg didn't want to go in at all. Took a lot of cursing and pounding and prying... I don't remember the exact details tho. I remember prying on the rear leg of the control arm while my dad tried to insert the thru-bolt for the bushing. It was one of those "it's almost there" so-damn-close deals.

Make sure your spring seats okay in the upper pocket of the crossmember before you bolt the strut to the knuckle...

 

what are you talking about? we are talking about lower control arms here...not a-arms

 

well both the front "a arms" and back lcas are considered lower control arms. You might of wanted to specify what ones. Even though most people understand what your talking about. But it should go in as long as you use alot of grease and a little mustle too

 

Put some grease/oil on the out side surfaces to help slide them in.

If the holes arent lining up most likely the rear has shifted when they where removed. You can place a jack under the pumpkin to help more the rear up and down to help align it.

 

I got a long hardened cold steel punch like in this pic 2nd from the far left .. and hammered it in one side where you could barely see the bolt hole line up , once the tip is in about 1/4 " put a hand on it and pull it backward to force the hole to line up then start your bolt from the other side..
and thats it..