looking for advice or pointers on re installing right rear A-frame

[70mford151a2]

Yes, it's me again I seem to be having an issue reinstalling the inner mounts on the right rear A-am. I removed both to replace the suspension bushing which went fine I installed the left A-arm with little problem. but the right A-arm is giving me fits. the outer mounts went right in but the inner one ( near the driveshaft) is having a problem. I have the hanger plates on correctly and actually have 1 bolt in but the other 2 will not line up they are like 1/8 " off and can't figure out how to move that mount to line them up all the while it's sitting on the floor jack. do I need to unbolt the outer and do them together for them to line up? have no idea how I would do that. like I said the left one was no problem. the bolts line up but the plate is high in the corner and needs to drop so it will line up with the bolt any suggestions I searched the site and couldn't find a similar post thanks in advance Dave p.s. it's an A2 I even went as far as to removing plates from the arm and bolting them to the body to make sure I had them positioned correctly then marked the outsides so it went back on the arm correctly so that's not the issue and I would have just hung it that way but I don't want to remove the driveshaft to get to the bolt.
in TN

[Horst]

post some pictures please

[70mford151a2]

when it warms up some I'll take some

[Mr. Recovery]

You can check that the mounts are in the correct order by looking for the letter that is stamped into each bracket, they are marked A through H, when mounted all letters can bee seen on the side that is away from the frame, starting on the Driver's side they run, A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H . The bracket you should see looking between the right rear wheel and body should be "H" I had this same issue putting mine back on.

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[70mford151a2]

I knew about the letters my problem is I painted the plates and I can see some letters but not all, you are probably right there's one backward if the number is always on the same side like the letter that should be easy figure out I did get the left side on correctly so it has to be an issue of them just being backward they are the "E and F plates" I'll check again since I removed it from the body ( I had the G & H in the right spot they lined right up. thanks, I'll let you know

[70mford151a2]

ok one of the plates was wrong so I fixed that and it goes in to place and I am able to get the bolts all the way thru on the outside but the inside will only go thru the plate and the frame but not the other plate, it's so close but I just can't seem to get it lined up to go thru and I can't figure out what to do now there's no room to get to the inside mount so far 2 days on the right a frame and it's not in yet. now I know why Dad never did those bushings.

[Mr. Recovery]

ok one of the plates was wrong so I fixed that and it goes in to place and I am able to get the bolts all the way thru on the outside but the inside will only go thru the plate and the frame but not the other plate, it's so close but I just can't seem to get it lined up to go thru and I can't figure out what to do now there's no room to get to the inside mount so far 2 days on the right a frame and it's not in yet. now I know why Dad never did those bushings.

I just drilled that 1 hole out on the bracket. Take note that I am working on the Alley Cat I got from TJ and a lot of stock things are just a little off!

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[70mford151a2]

it would be impossible to get a drill in there to do that in my case I guess I'll have to keep trying maybe do the inside 1st cause there's more room on the outside to $%^& with it

[rickf]

I am assuming you have checked to be absolutely sure you have all of the right brackets in the right places right? Just because they fit on the other side does not really mean they belong there. If they are all correct are all the bolts loose? Everything needs to be loose as you put it together and you may need to put the troublesome one is first and then the other one. Try different combinations. How did you press the bushings into the control arm? Did you put the whole unit in a press and push across the entire unit? Or did you used the threaded rod trick?

[70mford151a2]

I used a long #8bolt and two Sched 8 washers and a 1" socket on the push side a 1/1/16" deep socket on receiving side and all 4 went well, if that were a problem why did the left side go on so easy and yes I have the letters correct having trouble with the E & F which is the inner mount passenger side, only off by a sliver. having trouble moving the plate up to align with the bolt I can see the end of the bolt but it's just a little off. taking the day off try again tomorrow, my knees are sore from getting up off the garage floor

[70mford151a2]

and yes they are on A.B.C.D.E.F.G.H.
1 2 3 4 having trouble with mount 3

[70mford151a2]

look into heaven and rejoice I got the damn thing mounted, took everything I had but I got it done the Lord smiled on me today. time for a beer or 12

[rickf]

NOW, Do NOT tighten the bolts until the weight of the vehicle is on the tires!!!! You will have all kinds of issues if you do. Let me rephrase that, do not tighten the bolt through the bushing, you do tighten the bolts on the brackets to the frame. leave the bushing bolts loose until it is down. The bushings have to be in a neutral position when sitting normal before you tighten them up. That goes for ANY suspension bushing on any vehicle.

[70mford151a2]

Damn, I did not know that, but it's still on jack stands so I can just go back and loosen and retighten correct? well, that's all I can do at this point I'm not going thru that again. thanks, Rick

[rickf]

Yes, loosen just the bolts that go through the bushings and set it down and bounce it a few times and then tighten them up. What happens is this, You have a rubber bushing vulcanized onto a metal outer body and an inner metal bushing. The rubber does not rotate on those metal parts, it just twists back and forth. So if you tighten it when it is in air and the suspension is hanging down and then set it down the very first thing that happens is the rubber has to do a major twist just to get to the normal sitting position. This can cause differences in height and makes for a much stiffer ride. Not to mention it drastically shortens the life of the bushings. So if they are loose and centered before tightening then there is no stress at all on them and all is happy with the suspension gods.