control arm issue

[fastshos]

I installed new control arms and after noticed that the left had a big R on it, assuming this means right side, I installed them at different times meaning 1 day after the other. I think auto zone sold me wrong sides and i put them on like a ********.....anyway my point is that I also put new wheel bearings in 95 spindles for brake upgrade and now something is loose in both wheels. Am I going to have to replace bearings and is there a huge difference between left right control arms that I have to switch them?!?

 

[sdpatt]

I don't believe that you can actually fit the control arm on the wrong side with the angles of the pivot bolts. Regarding the looseness; who pressed the bearings in the knuckles? There is definitelly a wrong way to do it that can damage the bearings. If the hub is pressed into the bearing it will push the inner race out of the bearing. Also check that the lower pinch bolt is correctly torqued.

 

[Toul]

The geometry of the rest of the suspension should keep you from putting everyhting back together if the lcas are on the wrong sides. It would move the knuckle rearward and you would not be able to get the strut rod through the bushing on the lca.

 

[pjtoledo]

are the outer CV joints in the bearings? and correctly torqued? the front wheel bearings each have 2 inner races that must be properly clamped together (thats bearing pre-load) by the pressure of the CV joint and axle nut. new bearings can go bad rapidly if they were not torqued adequately. that also means that if you pull the half shafts out then move the car the inner races can spread and allow the bearing to get loose, which is a bad thing.

Perry

 

[marv]

control arms

Ok so I take my car to get aligned and deal with these issues.......i guess there is nothing wrong, they aligned it. It drive fine but I swear when I grab top of
left wheel and pull back and forth something is moving and making noise. I still don't get why there is a R on the left control arm either. These spindles where from a 94/95 so I don't know what else it could be.
Oh, a few months back had axles replaced and they torqued the axle nuts hand tight and that's what wasted my ball joints, tie rod ends, and bearings. When I called them on it they said they are supposed to be 80lbs...........I put them at 180lbs.