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Axle swap - can't get LCA bolt seated properly

1K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  Colin 
#1 ·
Swapped out a bent Dana 30 with a straight one last night. The axle is "twisted" in a way that the LCA bolts seated back into the C shaped part of the LCA mount on one side but not the other.

Driver's side:


Passenger side:


We struggled with it and cannot figure out the best way to get the bottom of the axle to move. Planning to take it to an alignment shop when we're done, but this seems like it's more than just an alignment problem. Searched but could not find any tips for doing it. Any help is appreciated.
 
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#6 ·
Thanks



Yes, we jacked the axle up and didn't see any appreciable change in relative positioning... but worth trying again.

I'd use a ratchet strap to pull it into position.
Yep, we have been using those on this job... I've only got a light-duty set for keeping stuff from blowing out of the back of my pick-up, so haven't been able to get as much force into it as I think we need. I have four of them, so I'll just use more than one and see if the force-multiplier works.

I always connect the axle end of the arm first, push the bolt into position and spin the nut on for a couple of threads, then connect a ratchet strap or come-along to that bolt to get the frame end of the arm into position. I find that it makes lining up the second bolt (frame side) much easier as you are using the strap directly on the arm itself to align it into position for the second bolt.
We did not disconnect any of the control arms from the frame, just from the axle. This approach is worth a try.

As you turn the bolt head, the cam will turn with it. Once the cam is inside the horseshoe, install the cam washer and nut on the other side firmly, then you can rotate the cam bolt to whatever setting you need. As mentioned above, sometimes to get the bolt all the way through a ratchet strap is useful.
Didn't think I had cam bolts, the washer part of the head doesn't look like a cam to me. Anyway, if there is a narrow dimension to the washer, it's not narrow enough to fit - there's too much offset. Will try to get it closer with the wratchet straps and re-examine to see if the bolt head has a cam shaped washer.
 
#4 ·
I always connect the axle end of the arm first, push the bolt into position and spin the nut on for a couple of threads, then connect a ratchet strap or come-along to that bolt to get the frame end of the arm into position. I find that it makes lining up the second bolt (frame side) much easier as you are using the strap directly on the arm itself to align it into position for the second bolt.
 
#5 ·
As you turn the bolt head, the cam will turn with it. Once the cam is inside the horseshoe, install the cam washer and nut on the other side firmly, then you can rotate the cam bolt to whatever setting you need. As mentioned above, sometimes to get the bolt all the way through a ratchet strap is useful.
 
#8 ·
Nope, definitely don't have cam bolts. That's an optical illusion due to the viewing angle. Here's a straight-on shot of the good one. The bolt doesn't have a flat side, and the washer head is concentric with the center of the bolt.

 
#10 ·
Got it!

When one ratchet strap won't work, use four!!!



Raised the passenger side of the axle to allow the ratchet straps to pull it forward enough that we could seat the bolt head. These are the lightweight straps you get at the hardware store...



Thanks again for the help guys... as always, Wrangler Forum is the best place!
 
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