LCA Install problem...doesn't line up
05-16-2010, 10:16 AM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Posts: 470
LCA Install problem...doesn't line up
I'm trying to put in my LCAs today and I got the first one off and the axle side of the new one put in...when I went to line up the frame side, its about 3/4" short! I know that the axle can move but I thought just doing one at a time prevented this (as I did). Now I'm a little lost as to what to do...How do I "move" the axle that much?? That seems like a lot...
The car is lowered on steeda springs...I probably should have thought about that before...not sure if that can screw up the geometry that much
The car is lowered on steeda springs...I probably should have thought about that before...not sure if that can screw up the geometry that much
05-16-2010, 11:39 AM
#2
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chesapeake, Va.
Posts: 523
I'm trying to put in my LCAs today and I got the first one off and the axle side of the new one put in...when I went to line up the frame side, its about 3/4" short! I know that the axle can move but I thought just doing one at a time prevented this (as I did). Now I'm a little lost as to what to do...How do I "move" the axle that much?? That seems like a lot...
The car is lowered on steeda springs...I probably should have thought about that before...not sure if that can screw up the geometry that much
The car is lowered on steeda springs...I probably should have thought about that before...not sure if that can screw up the geometry that much
As far as moving the axle enough to line everything up so you can install bolts, you can get a friend to help or do what I do and use a 2 x 4, as a pry bar, to move it.
Last edited by NJ3; 05-16-2010 at 11:41 AM.
05-16-2010, 12:21 PM
#3
2nd Gear Member
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Posts: 470
Actually, here's what happened:
I jacked the car up by the axle, as per instructions, in order to put a load on the suspension. Don't do that. It caused the axle to be misaligned. I lowered the jack, lifted it from the sides, stood it up, and was able to easily slide the LCAs in place while my wife threaded the bolt through the hole! So, mission successful. Lesson: don't jack it up by the diff when doing LCAs because it won't let you move the axle as needed.
As a bonus, I painted my rear calipers while I had the tires off with a little help from the wifey. (she made sure I mentioned her name twice in her...)
Now, to do the front ones when she goes off to wor at 4pm...
I jacked the car up by the axle, as per instructions, in order to put a load on the suspension. Don't do that. It caused the axle to be misaligned. I lowered the jack, lifted it from the sides, stood it up, and was able to easily slide the LCAs in place while my wife threaded the bolt through the hole! So, mission successful. Lesson: don't jack it up by the diff when doing LCAs because it won't let you move the axle as needed.
As a bonus, I painted my rear calipers while I had the tires off with a little help from the wifey. (she made sure I mentioned her name twice in her...)
Now, to do the front ones when she goes off to wor at 4pm...
05-16-2010, 12:45 PM
#4
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 166
When I did mine, I just backed the car onto ramps and unbolted the LCA's and put the new ones in, nothing moved and everything lined up perfectly. Did the same thing when I installed the LCA relocation brackets, everything lined up perfectly then also.
05-16-2010, 01:52 PM
#5
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 11,962
Actually, here's what happened:
I jacked the car up by the axle, as per instructions, in order to put a load on the suspension. Don't do that. It caused the axle to be misaligned. I lowered the jack, lifted it from the sides, stood it up, and was able to easily slide the LCAs in place while my wife threaded the bolt through the hole! So, mission successful. Lesson: don't jack it up by the diff when doing LCAs because it won't let you move the axle as needed.
I jacked the car up by the axle, as per instructions, in order to put a load on the suspension. Don't do that. It caused the axle to be misaligned. I lowered the jack, lifted it from the sides, stood it up, and was able to easily slide the LCAs in place while my wife threaded the bolt through the hole! So, mission successful. Lesson: don't jack it up by the diff when doing LCAs because it won't let you move the axle as needed.
That's exactly what I did and had an alignment issue. Solved by muscling my way out. Lifting from the side is the trick.
05-16-2010, 02:59 PM
#7
2nd Gear Member
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Posts: 470
yea...i definetly wouldn't "pre load" it again. Woulda been so much easier.
As far as the drive goes, it doesn't squat so much when I take off and it seems in a straight line, second gear wants to hold traction better, but it didn't get rid of the problem I was hoping it would...
My car has a tendency to wanna lunge and jerk forward and back when i'm in first and sometimes second. If I wind first up to like 3,000rpms and back off the gas and then hit it again, it just lunges uncontrollably over and over. Very annoying...not sure whats causing that though or how to fix it...
As far as the drive goes, it doesn't squat so much when I take off and it seems in a straight line, second gear wants to hold traction better, but it didn't get rid of the problem I was hoping it would...
My car has a tendency to wanna lunge and jerk forward and back when i'm in first and sometimes second. If I wind first up to like 3,000rpms and back off the gas and then hit it again, it just lunges uncontrollably over and over. Very annoying...not sure whats causing that though or how to fix it...
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