CAP Auto lower control arm problems

[mjb765]

Finally called Ray just now and he answered!!! Explained the problem and just like that he is sending out another set of arms for me to install. He said anything is possible and they may have pressed a e body pin into and a body arm. He said they have sold so many with no clearance issues that something has to be wrong with mine. Hopefully it is that simple--not that I wanted to do this job again. New arms shipping tomorrow and I can send mine back when I get them off. I was very impressed with that kind of service--and he apologized for not getting back to me sooner. I will post an update probably late next week after I get the new ones installed.

Thanks to all for your thoughts and ideas
Mike

[brads70]

Finally called Ray just now and he answered!!! Explained the problem and just like that he is sending out another set of arms for me to install. He said anything is possible and they may have pressed a e body pin into and a body arm. He said they have sold so many with no clearance issues that something has to be wrong with mine. Hopefully it is that simple--not that I wanted to do this job again. New arms shipping tomorrow and I can send mine back when I get them off. I was very impressed with that kind of service--and he apologized for not getting back to me sooner. I will post an update probably late next week after I get the new ones installed.

Thanks to all for your thoughts and ideas
Mike

Nice!

[mjb765]

New arms arrived and they are identical to the first set....looks like I am rebuilding my stock arms..this sucks Anybody feel like coming by to help..this job is getting old real fast....I'll supply the beer

[brads70]

New arms arrived and they are identical to the first set....looks like I am rebuilding my stock arms..this sucks Anybody feel like coming by to help..this job is getting old real fast....I'll supply the beer

I just looked at mine and the sway bar is parallel to the ground.  Are you sure they are the same, even strut rod location? A-Body location is slightly different than e-body. I wonder if they would work if the car was lowered even more? ( not saying that's possible ,unless your using dropped spindles) That would push up the sway bar mount? Maybe these only work in lowered cars?

That being said..... nothing wrong with the stock design either?

 Member "Doomed" has the  cap auto set up, maybe send him a PM ?

[mjb765]

I just looked at mine and the sway bar is parallel to the ground.  Are you sure they are the same, even strut rod location? A-Body location is slightly different than e-body. I wonder if they would work if the car was lowered even more? ( not saying that's possible ,unless your using dropped spindles) That would push up the sway bar mount? Maybe these only work in lowered cars?

That being said..... nothing wrong with the stock design either?

I pulled them out and compared side by side. Took several measurments--sturt rod to end, sway bar tab to both ends and total length..they are the same. Not using dropped spindles either...I know there is nothing wrong with the stock ones, I was just trying to make my life easy and not have to get them rebuilt. Worked out well.......and in case no one heard me the first time 

[brads70]

Is this a new sway bar? If not did it bolt up OK to the old LCA's?
Member "Doomed" has the  cap auto set up, maybe send him a PM ?

[mjb765]

Is this a new sway bar? If not did it bolt up OK to the old LCA's?
Member "Doomed" has the  cap auto set up, maybe send him a PM ?

Sway bar bolted up with no problem to the old LCA's

Also remember that I had severe toe-out on both front wheels after the Cap Auto stuff was installed. Should be correctable with alignment, but I think it should not have been that far off since it was good with the old arms.

Will send Doomed a PM

Thanks

[brads70]

Sway bar bolted up with no problem to the old LCA's

Also remember that I had severe toe-out on both front wheels after the Cap Auto stuff was installed. Should be correctable with alignment, but I think it should not have been that far off since it was good with the old arms.
Thanks

Bummer, so that would mean the LCA's were shorter than the stock ones. I don't know what to suggest now?

[mjb765]

Bummer, so that would mean the LCA's were shorter than the stock ones. I don't know what to suggest now?

I'm thinking longer than the stock ones. That would cause the ball joint to be further out which would make the tie rod seem shorter which would toe the wheels out.

[brads70]

I'm thinking longer than the stock ones. That would cause the ball joint to be further out which would make the tie rod seem shorter which would toe the wheels out.

Your right I keep thinking front steer. 

[Strawdawg]

cannot you simply measure the length of the stock one vs the Cap replacement?

[mjb765]

cannot you simply measure the length of the stock one vs the Cap replacement?

Hard to get exact due to the shape, but the stock ones might be a  SLIGHT bit shorter. The strut bar placement in relation to the sway bar tab is different which will solve the sway bar clearance problem.

[KellysCuda aircard]

 I bought the whole front end, spindles included, nothing fit....when I tried to get in touch with Ray it was almost impossible...it was so bad that I had to send an email to see if I had upset him.
My rack would not clear the oil pump (so I had to cut the rack and lower it) the arms on the spindles dragged on the rims (had to bend them), the tubular upper control arms have to be shimmed with washers....for only a few bucks more I could have gone alterkation.   

[mjb765]

Stock LCA's back in and all is right with the world. Needs an alignment, but at least both wheels aren't toe'd out like crazy anymore. And the sway bar is back where it belongs. I should have just rebuilt the stock ones in the first place.

[brads70]

Stock LCA's back in and all is right with the world. Needs an alignment, but at least both wheels aren't toe'd out like crazy anymore. And the sway bar is back where it belongs. I should have just rebuilt the stock ones in the first place.

   Glad you got it all sorted out! Too bad about the Cap Auto stuff!