lca guys. Questions.

[5.0 Junkie]

Put on some used Metco LCAs. They looked almost new. I also received the relocation brackets. Brenspeed also sent my tuner and JLT so I put it on.

I tried to put the relocation brackets on, but they won't fit in the factory brackets. I understand it should be tight, but no go on mine. My car is a 2008. One thing I did notice was mine had a threaded boss on the inside of each factory bracket. Looks like you could run a bolt in from the inboard of the bracket, but they wasn't anything in them. Without the boss, it looks like I could install. Anyone run into this? Also, torque specs on the bolts? I put them pretty tight, but nothing crazy.

I now get a clack sound when hitting the gas. I can't tell if it is the control arms or the driveshaft. Higher pitched than the old driveshaft clunk. I am also unsure of the new tune and change in throttle response "hitting" it harder. Very light throttle change makes it clack once per pedal push. Any input here? I didn't find anything loose when I checked today.

 

[DarkFireGT]

I'm not quite visualizing the bracket thing. Pictures would help.

The specs for the LCA bolts is 129 ft/lbs, which is pretty danged tight. You're probably not nearly tight enough.

 

[5.0 Junkie]

If you pull the stock LCA out, and look at the inboard bracket that the LCA "rests" against, about 1.5" above the hole where the bolt goes through the bracket and LCA, there is a threaded boss that sticks into the area where the bracket would sit. Almost like the factory drilled a hole on the inboard bracket and welded a nut on the bracket. It keeps me from sliding the relocation bracket into place.

129 lb/ft. Sheesh. I would guess them at 90-95 now. Crap, I'll go put the heavies on them tomorrow.

 

[5.0 Junkie]

I looked at an install writeup for another brand. The boss is for the weights that they installed on the older cars. Mine doesn't have that. However, the other brand of brackets installed on the outside of the factory brackets. From what I got from the Metco instructions, their brackets slide up inside the factory ones. Anyone confirm?

 

[5.0 Junkie]

Got them torqued to 130# today. Clunk still there. Sounds like in the center support area of d/s. I'll crawl under and check that. Dang car is burning my time like the race car did.

 

[bad06gt]

clunks in older cars generally mean a bad trans mount. It's worth a look, not sure if it applys with this car.

 

[5.0 Junkie]

My car has 1200 miles on it and 3 weeks old. I hope that isn't it. Car also has only been over 4000 rpm twice. It is my daily driver and I put 70+ miles on a day.

I'll just have to go over everything again this weekend. It is very difficult to do it during the week with my schedule.

 

[Rick@Metco]

In order to install the Metco relocation brackets, it is necessary to reconfigure the rear of the lower control arm.
The aluminum spacers are removed from each side of the arm, and the shorter center pin included with the brackets is installed in place of the existing pin. This change narrows the width of the lower control arm at the rear and allows it to slide into the relocation bracket.
We suggest 95 ft/lbs as the torque spec for the control arm fasteners.
The noise you describe may be the front upper control arm bolt moving in its bracket or a failed bushing in one of the lower control arms. We build all S197 lower control arms with a combination of poly & Delrin (a composite material we machine at our shop), as polyurethane will fail if used exclusively in the 3-link suspension design. Perhaps your set of arms is a very early set built with just poly bushings.

HTH...

 

[5.0 Junkie]

I followed the instruction on the pins. I had one set up for the brackets, but couldn't get them up in the factory brackets due to them hitting the boss where the weight bolts on the older cars. I put the longer pin back in and just installed the control arms.

How can I tell if I have the older bushings? PM me if you'd like. I need to get this fixed and will send them in if needed.

I rechecked all bolts today and all were tight. Exhaust was in place and tight. During cruise, the slightest throttle application will make a "clack" sound at the rear of the car. Happens one time per throttle application. Bugs me to death. My 91 with all rod ends made less noise than this.

 

[kleistang]

:worth:

 

[5.0 Junkie]

Yeah, yeah. I work over 12 hours a day and spend 2 hours a day driving. I'll see if I can get some this weekend.

:worth:

 

[Rick@Metco]

Hey Joshua...

Messages sent via PM & email.

Thanks,
Rick