After installing the forward LCA’s with new OEM bushings should the car be lowered to the ground before the final tightening of the LCA pivot bolt and dampener fork bolt? Do any of the OEM bushings on the suspension require lubrication and what grease do I use? Thanks!
Yes, you do need to preload the suspension before torqueing down all the bolts.
With the car on jackstands, loosely tighten all the suspension bolts. Then put the jack underneath the front LCA and jack the car up till it slightly lifts of the jackstands… then with a torque wrench, tighten all bolts to spec and you’re done.
In regards to the bushings, I believe OEM bushings don’t need to be lubricated. Only the red ES bushings need lubricating. Hope this helps…
Thanks hybrid90 for the reply and great idea of jacking the car slightly off the jackstand before I torque the bolts. I was concerned about not having much room under the car once it was on the ground. Of course, I’ll will leave the jackstand under the car for safety reasons while I put the final torque on the bolts. Ciao!
[QUOTE=hybrid90;2209249]Yes, you do need to preload the suspension before torqueing down all the bolts.
With the car on jackstands, loosely tighten all the suspension bolts. Then put the jack underneath the front LCA and jack the car up till it slightly lifts of the jackstands… then with a torque wrench, tighten all bolts to spec and you’re done.
In regards to the bushings, I believe OEM bushings don’t need to be lubricated. Only the red ES bushings need lubricating. Hope this helps…[/QUOTE]
This, if not already…should be included in the Tips section. Pretty good info that is commonly requested.
Its better to actually preload with actual tires and rims.
you car should be fairly high for this to work. After loosely tightening all suspension bolts, mount on your rims and tires (and lugnuts) and place as many 2x6 wood blocks directly underneath all the tires. slowly lower the car until the car is almost entirely resting on the 2x6’s with it’s tires. You should have some room underneath the car to properly torque the bolts.
This way is better then placing jacks under the LCA’s because the car is resting on it’s own tires, which is closer to it’s actual load on when the car is finished.
[QUOTE=wise_old_dragon;2209515]Its better to actually preload with actual tires and rims.
you car should be fairly high for this to work. After loosely tightening all suspension bolts, mount on your rims and tires (and lugnuts) and place as many 2x6 wood blocks directly underneath all the tires. slowly lower the car until the car is almost entirely resting on the 2x6’s with it’s tires. You should have some room underneath the car to properly torque the bolts.
This way is better then placing jacks under the LCA’s because the car is resting on it’s own tires, which is closer to it’s actual load on when the car is finished.[/QUOTE]
I use this technique but I use 4 tire ramps instead of 2x6 blocks
This. 2x6 blocks seems really unsafe to me. Ramps are cheap, there are people giving them away on CL.