Keystone State Thread

Anybody remember the BMW X5 commercial from maybe 15 years ago, where they were touting their new traction control or AWD system, and used a bunch of adorable cherub-like "guardian angels" (One at each wheel; Four total) to represent this system?

 

Who here has rebuilt their lca's? Did you use white line bushings? Is it worth it to rebuild them as opposed to just buying new lca's?

I'll be cutting the original cam bolts and sleeves out because they are seized. I've read about moog's camber washers rounding out when alignment tech use power tools so I'd rather just buy oem camber bolts washer kits, wish they were greasable like moog's.

Any Info, links, etc... would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Maybe reach out to @fatfurious2. Him or Lloyd were talking about rebuilding a set or two to sell. They may have an opinion/experience. If my priorities were there i would've picked up a set as spares because they were to be built well and the problem is inevitable here in the NE USA.

 

I have 3 sets that im rebuilding. After that, im done. They're a pain to rebuild, and imo not worth it because return cost is low. If you're rebuilding for yourself it might not even be worth it.

whitelines are a good idea, but you need to keep the cups that the stock bushings are in, and burn/clean out the rubber. Then the whitelines need yearly regreasing or they will be noisy- or so ive heard.

ill be rebuilding using Moog bushings and lower ball joint. Im also going to weld the drain holes closed, and repaint.

 

Would you be adding a zerk in order to re-grease the bushings? Or would they need to be removed for this process?

 

Even OEM LCAs are only 250 a pop.. I'd probably just buy new ones instead of hating myself.

I've heard they're a huge pain in the dick to rebuild.

https://www.chaosfab.com/accessorie...ingle-Shock-Lower-Control-Arms-86555-E-16-NSS

There's always TC!

 

This cant be done. The bushings are rubber in a metal sleeve that is then pressed into the LCA. Inside the rubber is another metal sleeve that the bolt passes through.

This is where the "freezing" happens. Water gets in between the bolt and the inner sleeve and rusts, freezing both together and preventing movement when the suspension moves. The only way to remove is to cut and replace.

There wouldn't be a way to drill through the sleeve, rubber, and then the sleeve inside that for the bolt. Well I guess you could, but id think the whole bushing would be compromised.

Thats my goal. I just dont have $2200 laying around. Need to work towards it. Let me do the hard work, and then you get my result!

 

I don't have to reuse the oem outer sleeves if you use the Hilux bushing kit as they come with new outer sleeves. Just wat hed this video and I'm not sure I want to go through all that work, I've done bushings, sleeves, etc... slot in the past on other vehicles but it's never fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKO5cmMHus0&feature=share

 

How much are you asking for the rebuilt lca's?

 

$480 shipped, or $430 and meet halfway

 

Link for the Hilux bushings?

 

The part number is on the bag shown in the video.

 

X2

 

@fatfurious2

 

Thanks

 

You still need to press those into the oem sleeves. Thats a big deterrent for them. And the yearly maintenance

 

Yes you press them into the lca's but you remove the oem bushing outer sleeves first.

 

In the video you can see him burn out the old bushing, then use a huge press to press the whitelines into the oem sleeve, and then that whole thing goes back into the LCA. Im not doing that. A 20lb press cant do it, you need bigger. And on top of that you need to grease them yearly.

 

He removed both outer sleeves. LOL but yes it is a pita to press the new bushings in. I've done this many times with my hf balljoint press kit and a hf electric impact gun. You can see he pressed out the complete old bushings and outer sleeves. On the last one he pressed out the bushing then had to get the sleeve separate.





Here's the Hilux bushings with the outer sleeves already on it from whiteline.

 

I work at a dealer in PA, Doc Fee effective Jan 2nd was raised to $389, unfortunately. It was a lot better at the $141 mark. You will see it at any dealership.