Upper Control Arm Question

[marsjnj]

Does the entire upper control arm “bushing”swivel on the adjuster bolt or do I tighten the bolt so tight that I lock the bushing assembly in place and expect the bushing to swivel internally? I’m installing new UAC’s on a 2000 Explorer with OHV engine if that matters. When I really crank the bolts down to lock the bushing assembly in place it doesn’t seem like the bushings want to swivel. The old bushings seemed to swivel. TIA, Jim in Vancouver WA. (Edited to add “bushing to original paragraph).

 

[96eb96]

Bushings usually act as a torsion spring, and spring back with authority. They should not be loose (that would indicate being worn out). There is a torque spec they should be tightened to. Bushings help control body roll.

 

[allmyEXes]

Really tight. So tight that it won't come out of adjustment.

 

[Pete Deering]

Does the entire upper control arm swivel on the adjuster bolt or do I tighten the bolt so tight that I lock the bushing assembly in place and expect the bushing to swivel internally? I’m installing new UAC’s on a 2000 Explorer with OHV engine if that matters. When I really crank the bolts down to lock the bushing assembly in place it doesn’t seem like the bushings want to swivel. The old bushings seemed to swivel. TIA, Jim in Vancouver WA.

The final torque on the control arm brushing needs to be torque under load. The car needs to be on the ground.

 

[marsjnj]

Bushings usually act as a torsion spring, and spring back with authority. They should not be loose (that would indicate being worn out). There is a torque spec they should be tightened to. Bushings help control body roll.

Ok, I tightened the bolts to 112. The manual say’s 83-112 ft/lbs. the outer part of the assembly doesn’t turn now and the inner part of the assembly moved very slightly when I pry the upper control arm up and down. So apparently since the bushing assembly moved slightly, should I assume that it’s supped to move or is it going to destroy itself since it’s so stiff? My original question was whether the assembly is solid or is it supposed to swivel internally. My son got the UCA’s from Amazon so I’m just trying to figure out if they are as they should be. The originals moved a lot easier but they are 20 years old with 200k on them.

 

[J_C]

If there is a metal sleeve in the bushing that extends past the end of the bushing, then the bolt is supposed to lock that in place. If there is not a sleeve or it doesn't extend to the bolt then it is not supposed to lock it in place.

I'd just torque it to spec as you've already done, except I like to lather silicone paste grease all over any rotating area in contact with rubber, except not on the bolt threads or else you have to torque them higher to compensate.

 

[410Fortune]

You must listen to Peter
You must set the pre load on control arm
Bushings

The vehicle must be at ride height when the control arms are torqued. These bushings have a “range of motion” they are designed to work within. If you torque them at something other then ride height (middle of their ranger of motion) you will rip the bushings

 

[410Fortune]

The final torque on the control arm brushing needs to be torque under load. The car needs to be on the ground.