Upper Control Arm Bolts

[bob944]

I just finished replacing both upper control arms on my '96 2WD due to bad ball joints. I'm not 100% sure, however, if the specialized bolts and backing plates were reassembled correctly. For both left and right sides there are 2 bolts with big attached plates (bolt attached off center), as well as a a "keyed" backing plate that goes on before the nut is tightened. The rounded plates bonded to the bolts have one side that is flat, which I believe is supposed to point up??? The square backing plates have two "clipped" corners, which I also believe are supposed to point up??? I did not mix the hardware between the left and right of the vehicle, but I'm not sure if the hardware is supposed to be specific for the front or rear of a given control arm (and I might have mixed that up. The backing plates had the following markings if they make any sense:

Driver Side
"GB" and white paint
"EB" and pink paint

Passenger Side
"HB" and white paint
"DB" and green paint

I *THINK* I got everything back together correctly, as they tended to fit together smoothly only in certain ways. Before I go for the alignment, however, I was wondering if anyone can verify the correct assembly, and/or what the markings refer to? Which direction should the bolts/plates be pointing, and do the markings refer to front and rear or what?

Thanks in advance!
Andy

 

[SCEXPLORER]

Yep you're right! i did mine a couple weeks ago and everything should fit into place i don't think you can really put it in the wrong way.

 

[mrboyle]

Don't sweat about the markings, they are there for the idiot's at the assembley plant. When you have your X aligned the bolts (eccentrics) will be turned in order to obtain the proper caster and camber settings, so no mater where the lines are facing they will most likely be moved during the alingment anyway.