Front End Rebuild Pt. 2

[T-Rob]

Topic = 72 Challenger front end rebuild. 

I finally figured out all the new bushings, ball joints, bumpers etc that came in the Poly. rebuild kit I bought from P.S.T. and have them installed in their individual components.  Now I'm just waiting for the new Torsion bars to arrive.   However I still have one question for you all regarding the shaft/strut which goes through the K-member and connects to the lower control arm.  Does this shaft need to be pressed into the new bushings in the lower control arm?  This shaft sure didn't seem like it wanted to simply slide in place.   Thanks all!   

[HemiDog]

I assume you are talking about the lower control arm pivot?  It is a short shaft about 10 inches long.
If you are replacing the bushing with a poly bushing, the original outer sleeve of the rubber bushing should be left in place.  Just remove the rubber bushing from it by either tearing it apart or burning it out.  The new poly bushing will just slide in with a little lube.  The shaft should slide in fairly easy also.  In my case I got a new shaft made for poly bushings.  There is a different taper on the shaft to compensate for the slight difference in the poly bushing over the rubber ones.
If you are using the original rubber bushings, I am not sure, but you may have to press them in as I have not done them.  I can see with the fact they were so hard to get out, they are probably pressed in .

[rusty dodge]

For the Moog rubber ones:
Pressed into the LCA and also onto the shaft.

I think when I did them, I first put it into the LCA. Then pressed the shaft into the bushing in the LCA, supporting the inner shell from the backside with a socket.

[T-Rob]

Thanks for the input guys.  After reading your responses and looking over my parts it seems these pivots will need to be pressed into the LCAs.  Thanks again for the help!