Help: I can not line up rear knuckle bolt and LCA

[What2JZ]

Hi all,

I have been in a real pickle trying to wrap up the install on some coilovers, no matter what I do the knuckle bushings is too far inside the rear LCA to correctly align the lca holes/knuckle for the Bolt to go through. Does anyone have any tips here? Perhaps loosening the LCA would help, or something? Thanks!

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[Msoupe]

The knuckle/LCA bushing is a ball joint style so first make sure it's angled favorably. Use a floor jack to hold the LCA up. You can pull the knuckle IN or OUT to line up the bushing with the hole. Sounds like you need to pull the knuckle OUT board to line it up. Most people get tripped up on this because they are trying to line up the LCA to the knuckle. Instead, try the opposite and line the knuckle up to the LCA.

 

[What2JZ]

The knuckle/LCA bushing is a ball joint style so first make sure it's positioned favorably. Use a floor jack to hold the LCA up. You can pull the knuckle in or out to line up the bushing with the hole. Sounds like you need to pull the knuckle out board to line it up. Most people get tripped up on this because they are trying to line up the LCA to the knuckle. Instead, try the opposite and line the knuckle up to the LCA.

Okay so Im doing everything you say EXCEPT being able to move the knuckle outboard/inboard (i.e. adding camber) How do you move the knuckle? It literally does not budge in the outboard direction what so ever.

edit: do i need to disconnect the sway bar or something?

 

[Msoupe]

Can you take a pic of your setup? Is the car on jack stands? It is possible the sway bar is fighting you, but I suspect not. You may need to use another jack to raise the knuckle and retry at a different mating angle.

 

[razorlab]

yea you need to either move the knuckle up or down since the angle changes.

 

[What2JZ]

Can you take a pic of your setup? Is the car on jack stands? It is possible the sway bar is fighting you, but I suspect not. You may need to use another jack to raise the knuckle and retry at a different mating angle.

The car is on 4 jackstands, i only have 1 jack, and it is under the LCA. i currently have a steel punch in the hole to attempt to keep everything lined up, but as soon as i screw/hammer the bolt in further it just falls out, the bolt misses and the bushing misaligns again.

 

[What2JZ]

yea you need to either move the knuckle up or down since the angle changes.

can you adjust the angle of the knuckle with out moving the knuckle (i.e. loosening a bolt or something). Thanks!

 

[SD_MK]

Someone needs to lift up the spindle itself with their hands (yes, their hands, don't be weak.) also, while lifting the spindle up, someone pull the spindle outwards too, and someone else slowly jack up the lca, you'll meet the holes together. Done it multiple times. After the bolt is thru, check and make sure you didn't bend the rotor dust shield in a way to make contact with the rotor. I recommend grabbing the rotor and pulling from there, not the dust shield. Basically, deadlift the spindle.

 

[razorlab]

Oh, you are talking about the rear. I totally misunderstood.

Easy. Loosen the camber adjustment bolt at the subframe, now you will be able to move the LCA in/out.

 

[SD_MK]

Oh, you are talking about the rear. I totally misunderstood.

Easy. Loosen the camber adjustment bolt at the subframe, now you will be able to move the LCA in/out.

No need to loosen the camber bolt. You can if you want to, but all the suspension installs i've done never needed to loosen that.

 

[What2JZ]

Oh, you are talking about the rear. I totally misunderstood.

Easy. Loosen the camber adjustment bolt at the subframe, now you will be able to move the LCA in/out.

where would those be exactly? i have not done alignment personally, getting around to do one one of these days

 

[SD_MK]

where would those be exactly? i have not done alignment personally, getting around to do one one of these days

The inner bolt of the LCA.. you can loosen that if you want to.

 

[What2JZ]

Someone needs to lift up the spindle itself with their hands (yes, their hands, don't be weak.) also, while lifting the spindle up, someone pull the spindle outwards too, and someone else slowly jack up the lca, you'll meet the holes together. Done it multiple times. After the bolt is thru, check and make sure you didn't bend the rotor dust shield in a way to make contact with the rotor. I recommend grabbing the rotor and pulling from there, not the dust shield. Basically, deadlift the spindle.

I hear you man, but this is a one man show here unfortunately appreciate your input. To clarify I am talking about the rears by the way.

 

[What2JZ]

The inner bolt of the LCA.. you can loosen that if you want to.

and that would allow for movement of the lca inboard and outboard?

 

[What2JZ]

Oh, you are talking about the rear. I totally misunderstood.

Easy. Loosen the camber adjustment bolt at the subframe, now you will be able to move the LCA in/out.

My apologies for the lack of clarification

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