Front sits higher after control arm install?!
08-26-17, 07:36 AM
#1
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Front sits higher after control arm install?!
Just had the control arms replaced install went perfect and the car was aligned right after mabey a day after I noticed the car sits a little higher in the front mabey a half inch to a inch the old bushings had about 200k miles on it could the new bushing be the cause for raise in the front need to know cuase I might have to take it back to the meachic.
08-26-17, 08:02 AM
#2
Potentially a failed install. Why? Mechanics with little common sense tighten the bushing pinch bolts into place while the arms are hanging down because that is WHERE the unloaded spring and shock go when not supporting the weight of the vehicle.
What they should do is tighten the pinch bolts EITHER WHEN the vehicle is on its wheels so the arms are parallel to the earth OR simulate ride height by NOT connecting the coil over and holding the arms in their normal ride height position and then tighten the pinch bolts...
In short it sounds like your mechanic failed and your vehicle is higher in the air because your NEW bushings are trying to return to their neutral install position. Terrible job at explaining this. Sorry...
How about this:
Arm normal angle while holding the vehicle is say zero degrees 0.0° and it can move equally +/- 30°.
HOWEVER. Your mechanic tightened the pinch bolts while all the arms are down at at -30°. This places strain on the bushing trying to tear it apart as full compression from loading is now twice the travel range -30 to 0.0 +30° or 60° of motion. You can this will quickly destroy the new rubber bushings...
Take it back and ask them what his process was and determine the static position of the arms when the bushings were tightened. If hanging down, they have failed you. Then bring up ride height...
What they should do is tighten the pinch bolts EITHER WHEN the vehicle is on its wheels so the arms are parallel to the earth OR simulate ride height by NOT connecting the coil over and holding the arms in their normal ride height position and then tighten the pinch bolts...
In short it sounds like your mechanic failed and your vehicle is higher in the air because your NEW bushings are trying to return to their neutral install position. Terrible job at explaining this. Sorry...
How about this:
Arm normal angle while holding the vehicle is say zero degrees 0.0° and it can move equally +/- 30°.
HOWEVER. Your mechanic tightened the pinch bolts while all the arms are down at at -30°. This places strain on the bushing trying to tear it apart as full compression from loading is now twice the travel range -30 to 0.0 +30° or 60° of motion. You can this will quickly destroy the new rubber bushings...
Take it back and ask them what his process was and determine the static position of the arms when the bushings were tightened. If hanging down, they have failed you. Then bring up ride height...
08-26-17, 05:21 PM
#4
Just be careful not to move the bolt position or you lose your alignment. Mark the cam indication with a paint marker (a good idea anyway so you if one of the bolts ever comes loose) that way you know where it should be. You need to fully loosen the bolts to make sure all of the twist is out of the bushings. Loosen both front and back bolts at same time so the twist will fully come out.
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