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When I installed the bushing sleeves in the lower control arms, the sleeve went in different distances so there's a gap between the arm and the lip of the sleeve. When I disassembled them, I noticed this gap, but now one gap is maybe 1/16" further out. I used a threaded rod to install it and it wasn't going any further. The upper sleeves press up against the arm, but there's no stop for the lower.
Is the gap in the lower normal? The sleeve can't evenly press up against the arm because the arm is angled so it can hit on one side and there'll be a gap on the opposite side of the sleeve. Should the sleeve go all the way in until one side hits the arm?
The inner sleeve of the bushing needs to contact the shoulder on the cross shaft. The arms get distorted over the years from various things (including pounding the bushings in and out so it's not surprising there's a bit of a difference, 1/16 doesn't sound too too bad...
thanks, I was reluctant to accept the distorting, but you're right. When I lay the lcas side by side I noticed they don't exactly line up and when I removed them that lca shaft had distorted the rubber bushing so it wasn't going thru the center (maybe cuz it had been sitting on the tires for 20 years). I decided go replace them.
Control Arm Refurbish
so it's not surprising there's a bit of a difference, 1/16 doesn't sound too too bad...
