Icon UCA Install Tips?

I just purchased a set of Icon Uniball UCA's (the tubular ones). I read on Icon's website that the install is supposed to be easier than other uniballs because of the way they designed it. What's so different about it? Is there any pressing involved? I have changed both my upper and lower ball joints in the past so I have some experience. Is there any tips you guys have for installing these UCA's? Is the long bolt that connects the contol arm to the frame a PITA to remove? How should I lube the new bushings? Thanks!

 

Its a straight forward install pretty easy. The only difficult part is that long bolt and bending the fender to get it out. Lube the bushings with a good amount of synthetic grease.

 

Just saw you have a 97, not sure if the install is the same with having to bend fender and all.

 

I sure hope not. We shall see though!

 

So I have my arms and installed the passenger side with EASE. The driver side is another story. When I was bolting in the bottom part of the adapter that is supposed to be pressed into the spindle, the bolt stripped. It was not able to pull the adapter into the spindle and seat it correctly. So I bought another adapter from SDHQ and installed the bottom into the spindle with a ball joint tool to ensure I did NOT strip the bolt. This worked great. As I went to install the adapter into the arm, I could not get the weird star looking top bolt to reach the threads of the adapter. This was the easiest part on the other side. After some tugging and pulling, I FINALLY felt like it was catching. I began to tighten the bolt with a 1/2" socket and noticed it was not pulling the adapter into the arm. I constantly stopped to make sure it was going in straight. As I continued to turn the top bolt, sure enough, it got really hard and my buddy noticed it was not pulling the adapter into the arm. Next thing ya know, I have a stripped top bolt. What am I doing wrong here? These new adapters are supposed to make the install easy. The passenger side literally took 10 minutes. This will now be my 2nd adapter piece which each run about 90$. Is there a way to fix it without a new piece? Any help is MUCH appreciated.

 

sickadatcrap