Alignment problems (Sears auto center)

[JBurt]

So I took my rig into Sears Auto in Provo while on vacation for an alignment and they managed to put the cam nut onto the alignment sleeve on the LCA 180* off. (The front side of this looks fine)

They must have cranked it down with an impact because it flattened the stop on the left side.

I took it to the Sears here at home and they replaced the alignment bolt, sleeve, and nut, but they don't do fab work. They said they would reimburse me for the work but I don't know what to have done.

The only idea I have is to jam a crobar or prybar behind it and try to bend it back where it is supposed to be, then have someone weld behind it so it is stronger.

Any ideas?

 

[snivilous]

I had the same thing happen to me, well I didn't have a shop do it but went to align it myself and the sleeves were seized. Two cams completely sheared off the sleeve and another one rotated over the little tab but didn't bend it. You might want to get new bushings... Though welding it sounds good, maybe go and put a taller tab in while you're down there.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

If they were able to replace the cam sleeve then the LCA bushing should be OK as it's sleeve of the adjustment cam that seizes to the inner sleeve of the LCA bushing. Make sure they did replace the whole thing and not just the outer part and the bolt. I had this exact thing happen to me by an alignment shop, but the Bushing and sleeve were fused together so when the tech tried moving it, it just pushed against and bent down the stop. I also think the big ass wrench he used was swinging around and bending it down. I watched this guy do my alignment and he clearly did not know what he was doing. They said they couldn't do the alignment because of my "lift" REALLY!! Didn't charge me (after fighting it for almost 3 hours!!) So I fought that alignment all the way home. Got under the truck and My cam adjuster looked exactly like yours. Also, the other side was adjusted completely different (one turned all the way in and the other side turned all the way out) So I mirrored the adjustment cams and I bent that stop back by first prying up the tab a little then used the biggest vice grips I had and got a real tight bite on the tab and bent it up. Took a good bit of effort as that is a fairly thick piece of metal.

 

[nevada]

im pretty sure you can get a replacement and have it welded on. a much beefier one as well, IIRC.

search around the site a bit, im sure I saw it on here.

 

[1blink]

Be cautious about over heating if welding that area. After welding mine back on, my bushings got sloppy, probably melted a bit. Ended up replacing the LCA, although replacing the bushings would have fixed it too

 

[JBurt]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm pretty sure that the bushing is still good. It's only got about 6k on it (replaced last year). I'm glad I never had to go something like what you did with your bushings. Although when you get your rig back on the road it will be awesome.

I did think about heat from welding melting the bushing but then I'd have to take the LCA off at the shop or pay them to do it.

I've never seen a replacement stop. I'll look around. How much of an issue would precise alignment before it got welded on be?

 

[JBurt]

So the local fab shop said they can take care of it this saturday. They are going to take the stop off, bend it back, and then weld it back on. Does that sound like a good plan?

On the plus side while it's there I'm going to have them weld on my sliders!

 

[JBurt]

[MENTION=84120]nevada[/MENTION] I can't find anything for a replacement part. What would I even call it? Alignment stop yeilds nothing.

 

[nevada]

[MENTION=84120]nevada[/MENTION] I can't find anything for a replacement part. What would I even call it? Alignment stop yeilds nothing.

not sure what they are called, but im sure I seen them on this site. someone had them put on, pretty sure for the very same reason as you. the original ones were damaged.


i'll search and see what I can find.

 

[JBurt]

Thanks. I appreciate it. I'll keep looking too.

 

[MTD]

Common problem with sears.... Sorry had to...

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Ii8rC6CPCvM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[EatonKyleH]

Looking for something like these guys?

Total Chaos 59860 Weld-on Lower Control Arm Cam Tab Gussets

 

[JBurt]

Thanks Kyle. That definitely looks like it would work. Funny in the description it doesn't say the oem cam tabs bend from bad alignments. Maybe I'll make that a suggestion.