The Ford Barn

poolplayer1 · 06-26-2023, 03:12 PM

Ok guys, I got my lower control arms back from the front end/ alignment shop here in town. They replaced the front and rear bushings on the arms.
I have a question though, I went ahead and installed the driver's side lower arm first and tighten the bolts only to about 25lbs since I was told not to fully tighten the bolts until the car is on its tires. What I noticed is that right now as it is, the arm will go up and down kind of stiff. If I thighten the bolts more, the arm gets pretty hard to move up or down.
Is that normal or is the arm suppose to travel easy going up and down since the springs are out right now. I'm just wondering cause if I am doing something wrong, I want to correct the problem now before I put the springs on. The springs will be here on wendsday I hope.
I first put the rear arm in and than the front arm. In the front arm, between the frame and the bushing, I put the shim ( Washer with top cut-off) and then the collar. In the back where the big rubber of the bushing is, I put the big cup/flat washer and than the lock washer and finally the hex nut. Let me know please if all this looks ok or not.
Thanks to all.

06-26-2023, 03:12 PM	#13
poolplayer1 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 408	Re: 1955 Ford ranch wagon/ Lower control arm bushings Ok guys, I got my lower control arms back from the front end/ alignment shop here in town. They replaced the front and rear bushings on the arms. I have a question though, I went ahead and installed the driver's side lower arm first and tighten the bolts only to about 25lbs since I was told not to fully tighten the bolts until the car is on its tires. What I noticed is that right now as it is, the arm will go up and down kind of stiff. If I thighten the bolts more, the arm gets pretty hard to move up or down. Is that normal or is the arm suppose to travel easy going up and down since the springs are out right now. I'm just wondering cause if I am doing something wrong, I want to correct the problem now before I put the springs on. The springs will be here on wendsday I hope. I first put the rear arm in and than the front arm. In the front arm, between the frame and the bushing, I put the shim ( Washer with top cut-off) and then the collar. In the back where the big rubber of the bushing is, I put the big cup/flat washer and than the lock washer and finally the hex nut. Let me know please if all this looks ok or not. Thanks to all. Last edited by poolplayer1; 06-26-2023 at 03:23 PM.