Lower Control Arm shaft Help

[kcfirstbuild]

Ok, since I have my 68 down the frame I thought was would replace all the suspension parts including the control arm shafts. So I bought all new from LMC since they were the cheapest. Well I see Why I couldn't let the lower control arm shaft nuts even started. So I cleaned up the originals and painted them up. I started to install them, right side went good. Nuts are tight to the LCA and I can still move the center of the shaft.
Left side much different story. I can get eveything started but it binds and I cant rotate the center of the shaft like the other side.

My question is does anyone have the proper way to install these. Oh and there is no way I can get these nuts to Torque to 160 ( being that these are the original ones I'm putting back on).

[kcfirstbuild]

Any help ?

[OhOneWS6]

So you replaced the shaft but not the end caps? Seems like a lot of work to put old parts back on. Maybe I'm not understanding your question. Personally I'd go buy some good quality shaft kits and replace them. Raybestos seems to be the new manufacturer of choice as Moog quality appears to be slipping.

[kcfirstbuild]

No, no. I bought new ones from LMC but I couldn't get them to work. I'm now just trying to get the old ones back in. I dont think the old ones are bad.

[OhOneWS6]

I see. It has been covered on here several times. The search on this board is a little flaky so it's hard to find good threads sometimes. Hopefully someone will chime in soon. I did mine a while back but I'm not the best at explaining how to do it. The main thing is to get the shaft centered. I still think I would replace them with quality parts if I had them apart.

[kcfirstbuild]

Any other advice ? I'm thinking of getting Moog LCA shafts, but is the problem with the shaft or just me installing it?

[OhOneWS6]

I'm really surprised no one else has offered advise on this. Maybe try the suspension forum.

[treveiger]

Ask a moderater to move it
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[kcfirstbuild]

I have a post there also and So far I got more Feed back here. This is were I am at today. I asked all the shops the I visited to day if they ever replaced one. NOthing !
So I picked up some Moog shafts from work. I cleaned up all the primer from the inside of the LCA hole. Things seemed to go a bit better. I think my problem lies with centering that shaft. Does anyone know now to do that, I'm just eye balling it ?

[kcfirstbuild]

Anyone ?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by kcfirstbuild

....I think my problem lies with centering that shaft. Does anyone know now to do that, I'm just eye balling it ?

Anyone ?

That's how I've always done them. Keep the shaft as close to center as you can visually & thread each end in as close to equal as possible. I usually put a reference mark w/a sharpie on the shaft end nuts & count the 'turns' as I switch from end to end always turning the same amount @ each end. Sometimes one bottoms out before the other but it's never really been an issue on the trucks I've done.

Another alternative is to hit the wrecking yards & grab some used a-arms from a 73-87. The shafts use rubber bushings on the later arms that 'press' on & take the guess-work out of it. You existing BJ's can be swapped over....