Control Arm/Steering Knuckle Problem

[GhostRider33763]

OK I guess it's my time to vent. It always seems like the simple fixes for me turn out to the 3 or 4 hour long ones. Here's the problem. I replaced the Passenger side Halfshaft but I'm having a terrible time getting the control arm back on the bolt for the steering knuckle. Does anyone have any tricks or anything to make it easier. It has really become a PITA. I've tried placing weight on the crowbar to lower the knuckly but it just doesnt seem to line up well. Any ideas.

Thanks In Advance

 

[projectSHO89]

Use the spindle nut to pull the splined portion of the axle shaft all the way into the inner bearing race. Then the stud of the ball joint will line up and will go into the knuckle. If the axle shaft is not fully inserted into the bearing, the knuckle will be too far outboard for the stud to line up with the hole in the spindle.

I point the stud slightly inward, then push the LCA downward with the crowbar and guide it back upward into the hole.

Steve

 

[3.8Lwagon]

did you loosen the strut rod at the frame? ht amkes the whole job alot eazer. then after you put the lower control arm in the spingel tighten the strut rod up at both ends and the loer countrol armshould come close to lineing up at the frame

 

[GhostRider33763]

Thanks Steve, 3.8 Wagon - I think that may have been my problem. I'll give it a try. I'll keep you posted.

 

[projectSHO89]

did you loosen the strut rod at the frame? ht amkes the whole job alot eazer. then after you put the lower control arm in the spingel tighten the strut rod up at both ends and the loer countrol armshould come close to lineing up at the frame

While that probably would make it easy, it simply is not needed and is not part of the factory service procedure. It's extra work that isn't needed and sometimes time is money.

Steve

 

[rangerj]

Ghost rider,

Did you get my e-mail? Trying to hold the lower control arm and the support rod down, and at the same time lign up the ball joint stud, can be a challenge.

I put a bottle jack at the junction of the lower control arm and the strut, protected by a piece of hard wood. I put the top of the jack against the inner fender edge, also protected by wood or a piece of angle aluminum.

I pump up the jack just enough to get the ball joint stud under the steering knuckle. Like Steve, I angle the stud slightly forward, and have the axel already in the hub.

As you lower the jack the ball joint stud should slip into the steering knuckle. Sometimes alittle persuasion and guidance is necessary!

Use a new pinch bolt and lock nut, and a new axel nut. All get torqued to specification. I think you can borrow a torque wrench from Auto Zone, if you do not have one that goes high enough to do the axel nut. I have seen folks torque their axel nuts out in the parking lot of auto zone!

Hope this helps, rangerj

I am sorry if you did not get my e-mail. I have been having server problems, or it is operator error with my new system.

 

[GhostRider33763]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the help. I started the job this morning and finished up in about 1 1/2 hrs. The bottle jack helped me tremendously. It slid right in there this time. Well I guess it's time to take the SHO to get a bath. It's been sitting under a tree for a week getting pollen all over it.