LCA Rant and other stuff - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Kingdom934 · 04-05-2011, 09:05 PM

So I finally got around doing my front driver strut. The strut was pretty much dead. It also somehow manage to get the nut that holds in the cartridge into the housing loose, so the strut was not part of the housing anymore. It was so dead that it was still compressed when i had lifted the car up. I had to jurry rig my spring compressor to get it out without flying out (lower assembling just dropped since it wasn't attached to the strut).

I got my new strut inside and assembled, but I figure I'd to my LCA also. The bushing is a PITA..........I couldn't order the entire arm for gen 1 (wish I could have, I WOULD if i ddn't have to go through toyota)...in the process of changing the bushing on the driver front still. I got most of the crud out from the old bushing, but still got a bit left.

Problem? The new bushings that I got on ebay for the gen1 looks like it would fit, but it's a tad big. Maybe because I gotta press/compress them in. Anybody has a tip or two on how to get them in? Also, any special thing I can do to get rid of all the old rubber gunk in the old LCA or can I just sand them down (the LCA inside part) i so i can within reason get them in...

71Corolla · 04-05-2011, 09:47 PM

Are you sure you got all of the old bushing out of the control arm? It is rubber with a metal casing, so the old metal casing might still be in the control arm. It can be very difficult to get out, I resorted to torching mine out.

Kingdom934 · 04-05-2011, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71Corolla

Are you sure you got all of the old bushing out of the control arm? It is rubber with a metal casing, so the old metal casing might still be in the control arm. It can be very difficult to get out, I resorted to torching mine out.

I believe the stock ones only was rubber an d inside part had a metal pipe which fell out eazy.

I was using different chisel and a hammer to get most of it out. Just gotta get bits of pieces of the left over rubber on the inside of the lca. I'm also gonna try to freeze the bushing to see if it shrinks it a little so I can push it through.

71Corolla · 04-05-2011, 10:02 PM

You're talking about this part right? Ooops what I posted is for Gen2 nevermind! I would try freezing the control arm and not the bushing, if the bushing is cold it won't be able to deform and press in maybe?

Kingdom934 · 04-05-2011, 10:18 PM

That looks pretty much how mines do. That one going from the sway bar into the LCA.

Supposely I was looking online, they said freezing it would make it shrink a litte? Worth a shot since I've done a few things with no sucess. lol. I dunno about heating it up though. I've seen people heat up the control arm and freeze the bushing.

71Corolla · 04-05-2011, 10:33 PM

Use silicone spray it really helps.

edit - your bushings look like this right? I think you might need to press on the steel sleeve instead of the outer portion, at least for the front (I think) bushing. Or does that sleeve more or less move freely? It's coming back to me, the inner sleeve comes out (at least on a Gen2) that's how I did it, took the sleeve out, pressing in the bushing, and then pressed in the sleeve.

Kingdom934 · 04-05-2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71Corolla

Use silicone spray it really helps.

edit - your bushings look like this right? I think you might need to press on the steel sleeve instead of the outer portion, at least for the front (I think) bushing. Or does that sleeve more or less move freely? It's coming back to me, the inner sleeve comes out (at least on a Gen2) that's how I did it, took the sleeve out, pressing in the bushing, and then pressed in the sleeve.

Mines look just like that. the inner metal thing moves in freedly (well when it is out like that), so I assume i gott push in bushing and then the sleeve thing...it;s gonna be fun

Kingdom934 · 04-06-2011, 11:31 AM

The replacement does look larger...I think it should be fine? O.o;

Kingdom934 · 04-06-2011, 04:39 PM

I took the LCA and the two bushings to Midas to have them press out (the old one) and pushed in the new ones...it's been almost two hours, lol.

scarney1988 · 04-06-2011, 06:47 PM

Toyota did update the bushing design for the LCA for our camrys. There is a metal sleeve as far as i understand on all of the LCA bushings. Once the old bushing is removed, and if you do not have a press, I would recommend using a large c-clamp and lots of silicone spray. Put a peice of wood to cover the hole on the oppising side and then line up your new bushing and put a metal play or thin piece of wood over that and tighten. Might fight a bit but it should go in. Getting them pressed in is deffinetly easiest. I hope I am remembering all this information right lol. Good luck guys

Kingdom934 · 04-07-2011, 12:05 AM

Apparently Midas called me up mid day and said they are having some issues trying to get it pressed. they are going to try a gain tomorrow when there's more workers.

Sometimes I'm doubting if the bushing I got is the correct size, but the metal pipe insde the new bushing seems to fit when i run the corresponding bolt and the sway bar through it.

Also regards with the metal sleeves, the orginal metal sleeves/pipes that was on the LCA bushing came out without a fuss, it almost fell out of the old bushing.

EDIT:

Does anybody recall how much an entire assembling for a LCA would cost around from toyota? I just am wondering if I can't get these bushing in, ?I may have to resort to a full replacement, most likey from dealership as I don't know anyplace that sells a new arm for a Gen1...I know there's a bunch for a Gen2.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarney1988

Toyota did update the bushing design for the LCA for our camrys. There is a metal sleeve as far as i understand on all of the LCA bushings. Once the old bushing is removed, and if you do not have a press, I would recommend using a large c-clamp and lots of silicone spray. Put a peice of wood to cover the hole on the oppising side and then line up your new bushing and put a metal play or thin piece of wood over that and tighten. Might fight a bit but it should go in. Getting them pressed in is deffinetly easiest. I hope I am remembering all this information right lol. Good luck guys

I don't recall any metal sleeve. I had a chiset and a hammer mashing the bushing that goes in the sway bar. Only thing metal was the inner pipe. I ended up a naring the control arm, so figures there's not a sleeve. You recall what year they revisioned the design? Mines is from 1985 and has never been change the LCA.

Kingdom934 · 04-07-2011, 01:42 PM

Midas called. Gotta pick it up after school

Kingdom934 · 04-08-2011, 12:47 PM

So I got the LCa installed. I had a bit of a problem trying to get the LCA to the frame part lining up with the holes for the bolt. Had to devise some odd method of using a jack, hammer, and a long rachet to get it lined up. Took a good 30 minutes, but the rest was easy after that.

Got it in and took it for a test drive.

There is absolutely no comparison how much better it is with a new strut along other things on the driver side....I guess it would be since I was on a dead strut that side. Handles so much more crisp, clean now...and that is only on the driver side

Now....I gotta do the passenger front this coming week. Can't wait to do the back too hahaa