Loosen all control arm bolts when lifting

[Gerdo]

When you are doing a suspension lift you should loosen all control arm bolts. This includes the upper and lower control arms on the rear (frame and axle ends) and the upper control arms in front (the front lowers will be loosened when aligned)

Why? Because the stock rubber bushings are adhered to the control arms and the steel bolt insert. Loosening the bolts allows the rubber to relax. If you don't, the rubber will be under tension because it was set at factory height.

An added benefit is that you won't have to do the" inverted jack in the front wheel well" to lower the upper control arm.

Re-Torque everything once the vehicle is back on the ground at it's new ride height.

 

[driffter33]

First time I have heard that but makes perfect sense. this should also help with both flex and longevity of the bushings. :cheers:

 

[brian2sun]

That never crossed my mind either, but makes sense.

 

[jmildoc]

bumping this up, this makes perfect sense, I am gonna do this when I put my billies on over christmas break.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Good bump. I just heard the same line from Ironman Suspension when I inquired about my blown out suspension bushings. Anything bushed should be loosened until it is under normal loading.

 

[nissanh]

And you also tight the nuts and bolts in the suspension while the truck is on the ground on wheels. I also bounce the truck in all 4 corners before doing this.

 

[02_SE_Runner]

Never crossed my mind as well! Thanks for the tip! It will definitely be useful with my upcoming lift.

 

[Doc2012]

Aren't the lower bolts what's used for alignments? At least the camber and toe?

Obviously, after you lift it you should get an alignment, but there are some people out there that either bond have the money, or don't have the time.

I had no problems installing my adjustable DRCs. Just used a long piece of tuning and it went right in.

 

[audiness]

make marks on the adjustment bolts before you loosen them, so you can restore your alignment to close to what it was before.

 

[nissanh]

You have to get an alignment. This is something you cannot do by putting marks.

Buy a Firestone life time alignment plan for $180. You get unlimited alignments!!!!! I do mine every 5 - 6 months!!!! and gets a bill of $0.00!!!!

 

[theizzardking]

You have to get an alignment. This is something you cannot do by putting marks.

Buy a Firestone life time alignment plan for $180. You get unlimited alignments!!!!! I do mine every 5 - 6 months!!!! and gets a bill of $0.00!!!!

dooo this before they decide to bump the price again, i paid 150 for my last truck this time they wanted 180.....i do teh same thing and have perfect wear on all of my tires because i make them do the alignment every so often and then go to the tire shop and make them rotate and balance them, all free services after you make the initial purchase.

 

[Bishard]

Good Advice. My jack fell off c arm and onto my knee putting lift on last weekend.

 

[nissanh]

When I first got this plan for my car in 2009 and, I paid $117! (original price was $140 and of course a discount and used their credit card to get further 10% off). I did my 4runner this last year and costed me $180.

Also advice the guys at firestone to loose the bolt (facing front of the truck) first in the lower arm. The nut in the other end (facing rear of the truck) is soldered to the adjuster washer and will not turn if you don't loose the front bolt. If you don't tell this to them, they'll call it rusted nut and will ask you to get it fixed first!

I saw my 4runner is pulling out without doing the alignment and I asked why, their reply was rusted nut. I said first loos the bolt from the front. They did my alignment after that.

 

[jmildoc]

I wonder if this affects ride height. Since the bushings are set to factory you the the UCA's are stressed down bringing height down?!?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I wonder if this affects ride height. Since the bushings are set to factory you the the UCA's are stressed down bringing height down?!?

There is a certain amount of "pre-load" on the suspension when you don't loosen the bushings when installing the lift. The idea is to provide a "rest" position for the bushings to remember when they flex. I know some performance tricks used to be setting the pre-load on the bushings to gain some benefit from it, but its a tricky process.

Basically the idea is simple, you want to "reset" the suspension's "memory" to its new neutral ride height vs. the old one to increase longevity of the bushings themselves.

 

[jwscott79]

When you are doing a suspension lift you should loosen all control arm bolts. This includes the upper and lower control arms on the rear (frame and axle ends) and the upper control arms in front (the front lowers will be loosened when aligned)

Why? Because the stock rubber bushings are adhered to the control arms and the steel bolt insert. Loosening the bolts allows the rubber to relax. If you don't, the rubber will be under tension because it was set at factory height.

An added benefit is that you won't have to do the" inverted jack in the front wheel well" to lower the upper control arm.

Re-Torque everything once the vehicle is back on the ground at it's new ride height.

So....If I have done the lift, and did not loosen everything (I did loosen both LCA bolts barely enough to push the arm down to get the new assembly in), will this affect the alignment, and if so, should I loosen everything and lower the truck before tightening?