Thread: Doing LCA's, Anything to look out for?

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  1. #1 Doing LCA's, Anything to look out for? 
    SE Level Member ThatOldCarSmell's Avatar
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    Ordered the ebay special LCA's, only bc they have vertical poly bushings and come with poly end links. I'm also replacing the horizontals with poly too. Anything out of the ordinary to look out for when changing them? I know the oe end links can be...difficult, but other than that? Also, will a pickle fork do the trick separating the ball joints from the knuckle?
    99 GTP:
    ZZP FWI , ZZP 3" catted DP, Resonator delete,The occasional Poly bushing, ZZP front sway Bar, NGK TR6's, LED Headlights, 180* TStat, Anti- pogo washers ...This list seemed a lot longer before I started typing....
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  2. #2 Re: Doing LCA's, Anything to look out for? 
    GrandPrix Junkie
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    I usually just leave the castle nut at the top of the ball joint threads and smack it with a hammer, but a fork should work too since you're not worried about saving the boots.

    Make sure you have a good torx bit to remove the control arm bolt. I usually use a breaker bar to get extra leverage on it to pop it loose then once it moves I just use a normal ratchet.

    If the stock endlinks give you a hassle I usually just cut them with a sawsall and call it done. If they're really rusted then they may just snap on their own but no use fighting with messed up threads for an hour.
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  3. #3 Re: Doing LCA's, Anything to look out for? 
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    Quote Originally Posted by FordMan77 View Post
    ...leave the castle nut at the top of the ball joint threads and smack it with a hammer...

    ...good torx bit to remove the control arm bolt...

    ...just cut them... they may just snap...
    All good notes. Only addition is to loosen the nut vs. wrenching on the stationary bolt/screw head wherever possible. The Torx can hold it in place while you use an impact gun or breaker bar to break it loose after some good PB Blaster application.

    You mentioned a poly vertical bushing? Not aware of that one, just the typical flexing rubber OEM "ufo" looking one, or the heim joint that ZZP's tubular arms have.
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  4. #4 Re: Doing LCA's, Anything to look out for? 
    SE Level Member ThatOldCarSmell's Avatar
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    Thanks for the input, guys. I was thinking about going the hammer to the castle but route, but I honestly couldn't recall if there was enough room to get a good swing at it.
    Quote Originally Posted by dezldave961 View Post
    You mentioned a poly vertical bushing? Not aware of that one, just the typical flexing rubber OEM "ufo" looking one, or the heim joint that ZZP's tubular arms have.
    Yeah, I saw something about them on a fb group that I'm on. They're on fleabay, and may be total junk as the whole setup was pretty cheap, but I figured it was worth giving it a shot.
    4PC FRONT LOWER R/L CONTROL ARMS WITH NON TEAR BUSHINGS AND FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS | eBay
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  5. #5 Re: Doing LCA's, Anything to look out for? 
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    Did you use the ebay control arms?
    How are they holding up?
    I was thinking of using the Detroit Axle control arms.
    Any experience with Detroit Axle control arms?
    Amazon.com
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