2005-2014 Mustangs Discussions on the latest S197 model Mustangs from Ford.

LCA Install problem...doesn't line up

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 16, 2010 | 10:16 AM
  #1  
Lupo222's Avatar
Lupo222
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 470
From: Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Default 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
Old May 16, 2010 | 11:39 AM
  #2  
NJ3's Avatar
NJ3
3rd Gear Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 523
From: Chesapeake, Va.
Default

Originally Posted by Lupo222
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
With the lca unbolted the rear axle can move quite a lot, that's why you do one side at a time. As long as you don't have adjustable lca's and one of them is adjusted shorter than the other or you installed lca relocation brackets the your suspension geometry should not change from stock.

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; May 16, 2010 at 11:41 AM.
Old May 16, 2010 | 12:21 PM
  #3  
Lupo222's Avatar
Lupo222
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 470
From: Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Default

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...
Old May 16, 2010 | 12:45 PM
  #4  
90stang5.0's Avatar
90stang5.0
2nd Gear Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 166
From: Ohio
Default

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.
Old May 16, 2010 | 01:52 PM
  #5  
TPony's Avatar
TPony
6th Gear Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,022
From: USA
Default

Originally Posted by Lupo222
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.

That's exactly what I did and had an alignment issue. Solved by muscling my way out. Lifting from the side is the trick.
Old May 16, 2010 | 02:40 PM
  #6  
SpartaPerformance's Avatar
SpartaPerformance
4th Gear Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,291
From: Long Island, New York
Default

That's one of the benefits to CHE LCA's you don't need to preload so you can install them with the rear hanging which makes it much easier.
Old May 16, 2010 | 02:59 PM
  #7  
Lupo222's Avatar
Lupo222
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 470
From: Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Default

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...
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mtgldr
S197 Handling Section
5
Feb 3, 2024 09:00 PM
TimeLord101
New Member Area
3
Sep 4, 2015 09:27 AM
cbird1177711
2005-2014 Mustangs
2
Sep 3, 2015 08:43 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:48 AM.