Lower Control Arm Bolts aren't perfectly aligned
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Is this a show stopper?
![Name: Front bolts on lower control arm.jpg
Views: 720
Size: 193.2 KB](https://rennlist.com/forums/attachments/928-forum/1171318d1496254457-lower-control-arm-bolts-aren-t-perfectly-aligned-front-bolts-on-lower-control-arm.jpg)
Guy at the alignment shop took a look at this and stated I need to go to a frame show to get this repaired.
So far all I have is this one photo of the front bolt. The rear bolts are also "Offset" a similar amount. And this condition is true on both side, just slightly less on the left.
Trying to get to a highly recommended alignment shop across town to get a second opinion. Am I wasting my time?
![Name: Front bolts on lower control arm.jpg
Views: 720
Size: 193.2 KB](https://rennlist.com/forums/attachments/928-forum/1171318d1496254457-lower-control-arm-bolts-aren-t-perfectly-aligned-front-bolts-on-lower-control-arm.jpg)
Guy at the alignment shop took a look at this and stated I need to go to a frame show to get this repaired.
So far all I have is this one photo of the front bolt. The rear bolts are also "Offset" a similar amount. And this condition is true on both side, just slightly less on the left.
Trying to get to a highly recommended alignment shop across town to get a second opinion. Am I wasting my time?
Last edited by auzivision; 05-31-2017 at 03:24 PM. Reason: typos
#4
Rennlist Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Its not a show stopper, but you could loosen the rear two at the cross member then push that assembly (lower control arm) back a bit, hold it and tighten it all down.
Remember don't torque until it settles on the ground.
You will need an alignment either way.
I just went through this after replacing MM's and pan gasket on the one I'm supercharging, lots of on your back fun right there
Remember don't torque until it settles on the ground.
You will need an alignment either way.
I just went through this after replacing MM's and pan gasket on the one I'm supercharging, lots of on your back fun right there
![Smilie](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#5
Drifting
Thread Starter
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Would it be a reasonable expectation that a good shop that does frame and alignment could fix this?
https://www.yelp.com/biz/northwest-f...t-zionsville-2
I wish I had another day or weekend to work on this, but game plan is to leave for SITM afterwork tomorrow. I't would be worth a couple c notes not to have to get dirty on my back.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/northwest-f...t-zionsville-2
I wish I had another day or weekend to work on this, but game plan is to leave for SITM afterwork tomorrow. I't would be worth a couple c notes not to have to get dirty on my back.
#6
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Would it be a reasonable expectation that a good shop that does frame and alignment could fix this?
https://www.yelp.com/biz/northwest-f...t-zionsville-2
I wish I had another day or weekend to work on this, but game plan is to leave for SITM afterwork tomorrow. I't would be worth a couple c notes not to have to get dirty on my back.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/northwest-f...t-zionsville-2
I wish I had another day or weekend to work on this, but game plan is to leave for SITM afterwork tomorrow. I't would be worth a couple c notes not to have to get dirty on my back.
![Smilie](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Trending Topics
#8
Drifting
Thread Starter
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
The most recommended shop in town is booked till next Wednesday. So I'll monkey wrench on the control arms over the weekend instead of all SITM Shenanigans
Hoping there is some wiggle room and I get them lined up better. Also, I'll have time to check my bearing and ***** and possibly the dog bones and grease the sway bar bushings.
What else should I check while I'm down and dirty?
![Frown](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif)
Hoping there is some wiggle room and I get them lined up better. Also, I'll have time to check my bearing and ***** and possibly the dog bones and grease the sway bar bushings.
What else should I check while I'm down and dirty?
#9
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Gone. On the Open Road
Posts: 16,470
Received 1,624 Likes
on
1,061 Posts
#11
Chronic Tool Dropper
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
IIRC there are "guide sleeves" where those collars anchor that are supposed to keep the collars in the correct fore-and-aft position.
Pull one bolt in the front and look up inside to see where the collar and the threaded boss in the frame are relative to the hole in the collar. If the collars are in fact forward of the holes, loosen but don't remove the rest of the bolts, so one is removed from each collar. Then use a tapered bar in the threaded boss to move the collars back. Do this with the weight on the car if you can if you don't want to have to re-settle the suspension. Put a jack under the adjacent lift pad JIC, and just a turn loose on the bolts.
I'll speculate that the car may have been pulled/towed/tied down by the LCA at some point and the arm is forward because of that. I don't thing you could hit the brakes hard enough to get that displacement with the bolts tightened. This also points to the recommended procedure that includes leaving those bolts a little loose until the weight is back on the wheel. If left loose and you actually drive the car, you risk that displacement on braking.
Pull one bolt in the front and look up inside to see where the collar and the threaded boss in the frame are relative to the hole in the collar. If the collars are in fact forward of the holes, loosen but don't remove the rest of the bolts, so one is removed from each collar. Then use a tapered bar in the threaded boss to move the collars back. Do this with the weight on the car if you can if you don't want to have to re-settle the suspension. Put a jack under the adjacent lift pad JIC, and just a turn loose on the bolts.
I'll speculate that the car may have been pulled/towed/tied down by the LCA at some point and the arm is forward because of that. I don't thing you could hit the brakes hard enough to get that displacement with the bolts tightened. This also points to the recommended procedure that includes leaving those bolts a little loose until the weight is back on the wheel. If left loose and you actually drive the car, you risk that displacement on braking.
#12
Rennlist Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
What not aligned?
The holes cant move, the sleeve cant move, the threads in the holes below the sleeves cant move.
Its just not a centered hole.
The lower LCA cap to the chassis is aligned perfectly...where it should be.
The holes cant move, the sleeve cant move, the threads in the holes below the sleeves cant move.
Its just not a centered hole.
The lower LCA cap to the chassis is aligned perfectly...where it should be.
#13
Team Owner
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
stay away from the frame rack their is nothing wrong,
just make sure to drive the car a few miles with the rear pinch bolts loose then once it settled torque to spec 88 ft/lb for the rear,
65 ft/lb for the front LCA bolts
just make sure to drive the car a few miles with the rear pinch bolts loose then once it settled torque to spec 88 ft/lb for the rear,
65 ft/lb for the front LCA bolts
#14
Administrator - "Tyson"
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
The proper way to set ride height is spelled out very clearly in the WSM - sorry for being a royal PIA on this topic, just follow the WSM.
On the rack, loosen the bolts, follow the procedure, then torque the bolts.
#15
Team Owner
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Dont panic, no harm driving with the bolts 1 turn loose,
I do it all the time, the bushing settle nicely after a few applications of brake.
drive it around the block
I do it all the time, the bushing settle nicely after a few applications of brake.
drive it around the block