Setting Control Arm Length

[Mike_H]

I'm installing Currie Double adjustable Control arms on my rig. Trying to follow this post

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...-control-arms-on-a-jeep-wrangler-tj-lj.17062/

and the poster makes it seems as though the uppers should slide in and out easily. Mine are not. The point I am at...

• I removed the springs, the track bar, disconnected the bottoms of the shocks, and disconnected the anti-roll bar.
• I removed the DS lower and then used it to set my control arm lengths to factory lengths buy adjusting them until the bolts fit thru the new and old holes easily.
• Put the Drivers on the vehicle Removed Passenger lower, put it on the vehicle.
• Set the lengths of the lowers to be centered on bumpstop at full compression.
• I removed both uppers and installed the new ones. Driver's went in at factory length, passenger was adjusted until it fit easily.
• I reinstalled the springs, trackbar, and shock bolts. I left the anti-roll bar disconnected for now. Everything is assembled loosely but Jeep is sitting on its own weight.
• I started the adjustment process with squaring the axle. The lower bolts were bound. I monkeyed around jacking it up in different places until I was able to easily remove the bolt. Jacking the pinion up is what removed the load on the control arm. After that, I was able to easily remove a bolt and make an adjustment on the driver's lower to square the axle (needed to move about a 1/4 inch). Usedt a ratchet strap to pull the axle in and slid the bolt in.
• Checked square in two places and its square.

I am trying to set Pinion angle and remove both uppers. I cannot get the control arm bolts to loosen up. Right now, my pinion is about 4 degrees high. Everything is still loose. All control arm bolts are bound up. I've tried jacking the pinion, jacking the whole axle, jacking at the shock mount, nothing seems to work.

Any ideas welcome...hopefully @mrblaine, @jjvw, @Jerry Bransford, @TJDave @Chris will chime in.


Any ideas where I might be missing something?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Control arm mounting bolts will be TIGHT in their bolt holes if the suspension is drooping which causes the axles to pull hard against the control arm mounting bolts. When I'm doing anything that has to do with the control arms I like the Jeep sitting on its tires to make things as easy as possible to unbolt and adjust. Or if the Jeep is being supported with jack stands under its frames, jack the axle up you're working on to relieve the tension on its mounting bolts.

 

[Mike_H]

Control arm mounting bolts will be TIGHT in their bolt holes if the suspension is drooping which causes the axles to pull hard against the control arm mounting bolts. When I'm doing anything that has to do with the control arms I like the Jeep sitting on its tires to make things as easy as possible to unbolt and adjust. Or if the Jeep is being supported with jack stands under its frames, jack the axle up you're working on to relieve the tension on its mounting bolts.

Its sitting on its tires, on a level concrete floor.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Its sitting on its tires, on a level concrete floor.

A BFH might be useful then.

 

[Goatman]

Thinking you should be adjusting for ride height. That is where the axle will be most of the time. At flex or droop the axle is trying to do something that the control arms are trying to resist. So at either extreme the mount holes should be tight.

 

[Mike_H]

Thinking you should be adjusting for ride height. That is where the axle will be most of the time. At flex or droop the axle is trying to do something that the control arms are trying to resist. So at either extreme the mount holes should be tight.

Again...the jeep is sitting on its tires, at ride height.

 

[Mike_H]

I think I have it now. Mental note... Don't put both uppers on at one time. I removed one of them and everything loosened up. I'm able to set my pinion angles and axle squareness easy peasy now.

Since the last upper goes in just to fit, there isn't any reason to install it before the very last thing you do...