LCA with whiteline bushings won't fit washers

I replaced my LCA bushings with whitelines. When I attempt to install LCA on truck there is now too a tight fit on the outer portion of the bushing and it will not fit the washer.

 

Do you have any pictures showing this fittment issue? I recently installed the same bushings you did into a second set of LCAs that I’m waiting to install on my truck.

I cut the OEM bushings out of the arms I have as extras. Hacksaw through the bushing technique. You put the jack inside and pushed outwards, correct? So if anything you possibly made the gap wider? Wouldn’t that make it fit more loosely upon install? Did you fully seat the whitelines? Mine tapped in with a rubber mallet and one of their washers to protect the face. I tapped them in dry, no grease on the outer metal bushing shell that contacts the LCA eye.

 

Well, you should be able to tell with the naked eye if it's squared up or not when you try to install it.

I used the bottle jack method successfully to remove my old bushings.

 

I'll get some pics in a few mins. I did the bottle jack method on the inside and pushed them outwards. It seems to have widened the LCA so that its a tight fit on the outer part of the bushings.

 

I believe I follow. If it were me, perhaps careful use of a mechanics prybar can allow you enough space to slip in that last washer. I would have everything in place and then use a prybar to encourage the LCA in the appropriate direction to allow you to slip that last washer in. Worth a try.

 

I mean if the arm is bent I'd be concerned that you're not going to be able to get a proper alignment after it's all said and done, even if you're able to get it all buttoned up. I dunno, at this point it could be worth a try and see. But if you have issues getting aligned afterward you'll know what the problem is.

 

i like this idea. Gonna give it a go tomorrow and if no good i’ll do the moogs.

 

I had the same problem when I did mine. It was super difficult to get the washers in. I was worried that using a pry bar would mess up the mounting tabs on the truck but in the end it all worked out.

 

How’d you make out? Were you able to install the arms with the whitelines?

I swapped out my lower control arms yesterday to an OEM set that I installed whitelines into. I’m keeping my original lowers as spares to eventually rebuild with some Energy poly bushings I happen to have. Passenger side was the tightest fit to get all washers in. I used a 12” mechanics prybar to carefully open up the area for the last remaining washers. Worked well. Still, can’t wait to NOT do this again for a long time. Haha

 

For what it's worth, when I replaced my LCA bushings with Whitelines using a press (not the bottle jack method) I had difficultly getting the washers in as well. I think they are just supposed to be a really tight fit. I just used a small pry bar to get them started, used plenty of Super Lube, and tapped them into place with a small plastic dead blow hammer. No issues with alignment afterward.

 

Pretty much ditto here. Very pleased so far. I had a recent alignment done in late February with very clear paint marks. I nailed all those old marks and she still tracks straight even with my hands off the wheel on the highway at ~75. My original rubber bushings were cracking, yes, but they weren't oblong. So, I think my old alignment wasn't based on terribly worn bushings, which helped me with not needing it re-aligned professionally afterwards.