Lower control arm not flush

[JG1966]

I pulled my motor for a winter freshening and noticed a gap between the right LCA and the K frame. Torsion bar is seated correctly and seems fine but this doesn't look right. Driver's side is flush with K-frame. What's going on? Thanks.

 

[1967coronet440]

Hard to tell that picture is a bit blurry, but looks like the pivot shaft isn’t seated all the way in the LCA

 

[Fran Blacker]

Looks like pivot shaft may not be pushed into LCR bushing. See if others agree.

Edit: What about the other one.

 

[JG1966]

Well, the good news is the $40 torsion bar remover that I bought from Mancini and thought I'd only use once will come in handy again. Thanks.

 

[JG1966]

Looks like pivot shaft may not be pushed into LCR bushing. See if others agree.

Edit: What about the other one.

Driver's side is seated fine.

 

[JG1966]

Looks like pivot shaft may not be pushed into LCR bushing. See if others agree.

Edit: What about the other one.

Well, upon further inspection, the driver's also has a gap. Is it possible because there is no weight on front end (motor is out of car), that the K frame moves forward a bit and when engine goes back in, the pivot shafts will move snug again?

 

[1967coronet440]

Well, upon further inspection, the driver's also has a gap. Is it possible because there is no weight on front end (motor is out of car), that K frame moves forward a bit and when engine goes back in, the pivot shafts will move snug again? View attachment 544445

I’d say no, easy to replace shafts or LCA’s while the motor is out of the car. Qa1 has a nice set of tubular LCA’s with bushings and shafts already installed.

 

[Fran Blacker]

You need to remove them to see what's going on. They may just need to be pressed on further. If the rubber part is dry and cracked replace them. The sleeve inside LCR is a PITA.

 

[JG1966]

You need to remove them to see what's going on. They may just need to be pressed on further. If the rubber part is dry and cracked replace them. The sleeve inside LCR is a PITA.

I just replaced sleeve and bushings on both of them. Maybe I didn't seat them right during reinstall. Pulling them off now.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Don't do what I did, tighten pivot shaft at full hang. Should be tighten at mid up and down travel. I had to reposition mine, agh.

 

[Cranky]

Looks right to me. If the arms were all the way to that raised part, they most likely would rub on the K frame....the raised part is supposed to be the stop against the K.

 

[JG1966]

Don't do what I did, tighten pivot shaft at full hang. Should be tighten at mid up and down travel. I had to reposition mine, agh.

Yes. I tightened it with weight on wheels.

 

[JG1966]

Looks right to me. If the arms were all the way to that raised part, they most likely would rub on the K frame....

Thanks Cranky. Well, maybe I'll wait before I tear into this anymore. I know the bushings and sleeves are good, and I put everything back together following FSM to the letter. Can anyone look at a B body (1972RR) and see if there's a gap between LCA and K frame? I'm halfway to removing one LCA.

 

[1967coronet440]

My factory LCA’s the pivot shaft sat in the LCA all the way down to the shoulder, when I got the qa1’s they sat how yours do.

 

[Cranky]

The one on the right (the dirty one) has never been apart.....

 

[Cranky]

A better pic??

 

[Cranky]

Yeah, I'm trying to get my post count up.....it's so low

 

[Fran Blacker]

One or three pictures worth a 1000 opinions.

 

[JG1966]

Thanks Cranky. I called Matt at PST and sent him photos and he said there is nothing wrong. He said poly bushings would look different and cover that exposed part but rubber bushings (which I have) look like that. The shaft is tapered so it stops there. I guess it was a false alarm. Thank you everyone.