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I'd like to open a little discussion concerning installation of the bushings at the back of the front a-arms, which I've always called pocket bushings. The issue here is alignment for longetivity of the new bushing. Removing and installing is easy--in the bracket that is. What I'd like to solicit is the information on how people align the bushing so it is "unloaded" when the car is at rest with weight on the suspension. For newbie's, here's the issue: Best bet for proper alignment is to tighten the nut at the back of the stud with the pocket bracket already bolted to the underside of the car and the car on the ground. However, no mattter what anyone says about different types of sockets and wrenches, that nut is very difficult to get to, especially on the exhaust (passenger) side. I like to tighten the nut before attaching the bracket when it is easy to reach, with an extension. However, to do that, one must be certain that the relationship between the bracket w/bushing and the a-arm is correct. That is, the assembly must be tightened in the same relative position it will be in when the car is at rest on the ground. If the bracket is tightened at any old angle, then bolted up to the frame, there is the chance the bushing will be preloaded causing premature failure. I have experimented with marking relative angles and such before disassembly, jacking up the a-arm during tightening of the rear stud nut, etc. Thought I'd solicit everyone else's input on this. I'm not fond of the "cut a slot in the bracket" or "notch the edge of the pocket" methods.
What say, brethren?
Dave
83 245, 91 245, 97 855, 98 S70, Kia Sport 1080 and a duck-billed platypus (and a partridge in a pear treeeeeeee)
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