[cranberryredchevelle454]

starting to rebuild my suspension, did the inner and outer tie rods, left shock (right shock has a stripped bolt, getting dremil tomorrow) and sway bar links, it was a PAINNNNNN to get those sway bar links off but once i did and put the new ones on, i noticed they were really close to the control arm and they never seemed to get harder to tighten, from tightening in the begging to where i got it took the same effort and it wasn’t easy, so i stopped here because i figured i might over tighten then. How do i know when to stop tightening and is it ok to bring my car down off the jack stands, will the control arms come down and break the stud????


pictures bellow (sorry for only one picture of the drivers side) vvv

drivers side:

passenger side:

 

[cranberryredchevelle454]

should i loosen it? tighten it? or leave be and let car down...?

 

[dasa2131]

Hello - here are my thoughts. You might want to consider taking out the swaybar link bolts and chopping off 1/2" or so off the threads. I'd use a hacksaw. If you're using a regular 9/16" wrench, you shouldn't be in huge danger of damaging the threads. Those are 3/8" bolts - they are tough! If you're worried, you could swap them out for grade 8 bolts and grade 8 nuts which are higher strength. But I think you'll be fine.

Good luck and let us all know how it goes!

Dave

 

[Capt Casey]

I have the same issue and they just need about 1/2 to 3/4 inch cut off then your fine.

 

[SFD]

Remember, when you set it back down the spindle will go up away from the sway bar.

 

[Dean]

I wouldn't take them back out to shorten them myself but if you do, a rule when cutting off a bolt is to screw a nut on first, then it will straighten up the threads when being removed so a nut will start on it easily.

 

[lucifershammer]

Flip it over - put the bolt in from the top.

 

[cranberryredchevelle454]

Hello - here are my thoughts. You might want to consider taking out the swaybar link bolts and chopping off 1/2" or so off the threads. I'd use a hacksaw. If you're using a regular 9/16" wrench, you shouldn't be in huge danger of damaging the threads. Those are 3/8" bolts - they are tough! If you're worried, you could swap them out for grade 8 bolts and grade 8 nuts which are higher strength. But I think you'll be fine.

Good luck and let us all know how it goes!

Dave

thanks dave, i was really conserned that if i drop the car back down then the stud might hit the control arm or somthing

 

[cranberryredchevelle454]

I have the same issue and they just need about 1/2 to 3/4 inch cut off then your fine.

thank you, do you think i should tighten it more or loosen it or leave it be, i never felt it getting harder to tighten

 

[cranberryredchevelle454]

Remember, when you set it back down the spindle will go up away from the sway bar.

so i should be safe to drop the car? or should i just cut 1/2 inch off

 

[cranberryredchevelle454]

I wouldn't take them back out to shorten them myself but if you do, a rule when cutting off a bolt is to screw a nut on first, then it will straighten up the threads when being removed so a nut will start on it easily.

ah i see what you mean thanks nice trick 👍 so would you just drop the car back down?

 

[cranberryredchevelle454]

Flip it over - put the bolt in from the top.

i was thinking about this but i saw the old one in my car like this and i watched a video of someone doing it the same way so i figured something would be off about it...

 

[oldcutlass]

It'll be fine once the car is back on the ground. What you have is normal.

 

[shovelrick]

Just sit the car down temp and see where it ends up, like said put a nut on first before cutting anything, cleans threads when you back the nut off

 

[Road Roamer]

I replaced my upper and lower control arms on tuesday. With the car up in the air my sway bar links were close too but didn’t hit anything. This is how they look on the ground. Car is a ‘68.

I drove the car a few miles after finishing up and then went back over the hardware. I was amazed to find many of my bolts needed some tightening after everything settled.

 

[71350SS]

If either of those ball joint or tie rod nuts needed re-tightening pull the cotter pins and tightenthem somemore to line up the cotter pin.Unlike wheel bearings front end components need to be tightened to line up the cotter pin after you torque them,otherwise they can wear out what they are bolted to and work loose.

 

[GeeCee]

Is there a nut jammed into the spring along with other things or am I seeing things?

 

[Leadhead]

That's a coil spring helper to raise the height on the front end.
Edit: It actually looks like there are a couple different types of helpers. Might wanna consider getting some different springs.

 

[cranberryredchevelle454]

It'll be fine once the car is back on the ground. What you have is normal.

thanks i’ll slowly lower the car and check it out

 

[cranberryredchevelle454]

Just sit the car down temp and see where it ends up, like said put a nut on first before cutting anything, cleans threads when you back the nut off

i was kinda scared the stud would just snap but i’ll go slowly and see