Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

Help with upper control arm bolt

Don Bulee

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
Joined
Apr 13, 2021
Messages
347
Location
Mex
HELP! I cant pass through the bolt on the upper front control arm.... What should I do? I cant pull or push it for it to pass.... I didn't adjust anything, is the same length as it was when I loose it, i just wanted to paint the new bracket....

20240901_185915.jpg


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20240901_185921.jpg
 
It might just be in a bind. You could try using a ratchet strap to pull the axle forward or backwards a little and see if it loosens up the hold on the bolt. Or use a punch and hammer to knock it out. That could possibly damage the threads on the bolt.
 
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Reactions: SPECWAR
Are those arms adjustable? If they are, wouldn't you want to adjust the length of the arm to make it line up?
 
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Reactions: JMT
Why does your driver LCA have the adjuster at the rear, while the passenger LCA has it at the front?
 
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I looked at a possible 2nd TJ purchase a few days ago that had TWO DIFFERENT lower LCA’s in the front. One was an aftermarket round adjustable one, and the other was some aftermarket square POS. I didn’t look much further at the TJ.
 
Perfect, now you have your upper arms fighting each other to see which one can wear out the bushing the fastest.

as I mentioned, I only loose that one arm to paint the bracket, so the distance is the same the shop/mechanic set when he installed them, so that's the reason I didn't want to shorten the arm, cause I didn't want to mess up the previous set up performed by someone who knew what he was doing..
 
Why does your driver LCA have the adjuster at the rear, while the passenger LCA has it at the front?

because I was the middle of changing the poly bushing ends to Jhonny joints, and while doing it I saw that the flex joint is better to have it aimed into the axle and my previous set up the adjustable end was aiming into the frame, I got the lower trim of Core4x4 control arms and improved to JJ after a year, but before the sun went down I decided to prioritize the paint of the new Barnes bracket for the upper control arm and the skid plates for the lowers to avoid rust.. here is the one with the JJ and by the time I took the picture I hadn't finish to change the other arm, right now I'm still pending to change the rear ones as well... so now I have the two fronts aiming to the axle and the two rears aiming to the frame..

previous set up
Screenshot_20240903_101614_Gallery.jpg


current set up..

20240902_162605.jpg


I know Mr Blaine has no love for only one end being flex joint, I know it would be better to have both ends being JJ, but when I got the LCA's I thought I was going to be able to improve both ends to JJ, it was after I purchase them that I knew that the fix end is not possible to improve it..
 
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Reactions: OldBuzzard
on links with a flex joint only at one end. I put the non-flex joint on first, then the flex joint gives me more freedom to get the bolt holes lined up. If the flex joint won't line up, then the arm is the wrong length.
 
as I mentioned, I only loose that one arm to paint the bracket, so the distance is the same the shop/mechanic set when he installed them, so that's the reason I didn't want to shorten the arm, cause I didn't want to mess up the previous set up performed by someone who knew what he was doing..
If you are having to winch the axle into position to get the bolt in, they did not know what they are doing or you have the rig sitting seriously out of level side to side.
 
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Reactions: freedom_in_4low
as I mentioned, I only loose that one arm to paint the bracket, so the distance is the same the shop/mechanic set when he installed them, so that's the reason I didn't want to shorten the arm, cause I didn't want to mess up the previous set up performed by someone who knew what he was doing..

Obviously he didn't know what he was doing or you made some other change because you don't put tension on the arm to get it to line up. You set one side where you want the axle and pinion angle and then adjust the other arm to line up with the hole so there's no tension/binding.
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts