Is there supposed to be some sort of washer inside the lower control arm mounts?

 

axle side or "frame" side?

 

I did the lower control arms over the weekend. When I was tightening the passenger side bolt on the axle end, I couldn't get it tight (like it was heading out on the shoulder of the bolt). When I was looking under there today, it looks like there's a space between the bushing and the mount. The only way I got it to tighten was to put washers under the nut.

thanks

-bob-

 

i didnt have any washers in there. I recently replaced mine with some aftermarket ones. Is the bracket bent a bit maybe? or are the bushings messed up/wrong on the new ones?

 

Thanks Emaxx

I'll have to drop them again this weekend and take a closer look. I noticed on the frame end mount that there are slots instead of holes. Is this normal? The arms are supposed to be locked in solid....right?

Thanks again

-bob-

 

i think i know what you mean by slots, those arent really slots all the way through. If what im thinking what your seeing, i was a bit worried at first. If you take a look at the CA bracket, there is a slot on the outside where you can see, but theres also another bracket inside of it that is mounted solidly inside. Take a look tomorrow and see whatsup, if you need, i can go take some pics of my setup so you can compare.

 

well i ran out to check something on my jeep, was under it anyway so i snapped a few pics

you can see the slot that i think you are speaking of on the driver side pics

passenger side:






Driver side:

 

Thanks Emaxx

Them's some nice lookin' control arms they are. I appreciate your taking the time to click some pics. I just got home from school, so after I chill a little I'm going to pull one of those bad boys down. After all the parts I've changed looking for my shimmy / buck (and it's a LOT of parts), it's time to start going BACK over some things.

thanks again

-bob-

BTW...where'd you get those arms? Expensive? Those are fixed? I see from your profile you have adjustable upper CA's. What's the advantage? Are they worth it for stock?

Also what would be the standard tests for the control arms? Support the axle and.....?

tia

 

Well I got the passenger side arm down. The washers I thought I saw was what was said. A bracket within a bracket. The problem I see is that the bolt holes on the axle end mount are egged out and the bolt doesn't fit the bushing so good either. Off to Lowes for some bigger Grade 8 hardware.

 

the CA's i have are all from ironman4x4fab, a vender here.

heres the site
http://www.ironman4x4fab.com/XJ_Inventory.html

i got the upper adjustables for a good price because they were the older style adjustables he offered that had the zerk fitting in a odd, hard to get to spot.

the fixed lowers he doesnt offer on his site, but contact him via phone or email and he will get you a price on them. They are cheaper than most/all other aftermarket companies and have recommended them to a few others on the forum.

when you contact Andy, just say you want some fixed uppers and tell how much lift you have and he will make them the correct length to adjust the caster.

 

***update***

Well I took it out on the highway today. I think I'm on the right track. The bigger hardware on the axle end of the lower arm took a bunch of the slack out of the connection. On the highway it feels like it eliminated about 60% of the shimmy. I might pull the front driveshaft again this week to see if that makes a difference now. I think the last time I tried it, there was other stuff going on with steering and suspension so I didn't get a good idea if the drive shaft was really involved. If that doesn't make a difference, maybe next weekend I'll shoot for the upper arms.

-bob-