WJ control arm swap axle twisted...help

[rokinn]

First time posting to this site but I've researched a lot of info and appreciate all the tips I've picked up.  So...I have the wj lca's installed but had the axle twist when doing the first upper.  I've tried jacking as well as a come-a-long with no movement.  Need half an inch or so to line up.  Do I need to loosen any bolts or remove the spring, or disconnect the sway bar, etc.  Any tips would be helpful.  yes it's the proverbial pita.  thx 

[1987Comanche]

pick up a pair of coil spring compressors from auto zone. with no spring tension it will be easy to line the control arms up.

[rokinn]

Thanks, much appreciated.

[Pete M]

I had success with a heavy duty ratchet strap.  was still a pain in the butt. 

[Knucklehead97]

My dad and I used a big monkey wrench and a bottle jack on the end of it to turn my brothers old XJ's axle when it got out of wack.

[Megadan]

Another tip, do the uppers first and don't tighten anything until it's all lined up and all bolts are in.

[SBpunk]

I took a chalk to the tire I was trying to pull back and had a ratchet strap going to my other vehicle. Probably not the "by the book" way but its worked every time

[Blue88Comanche]

we used a small bottle jack after the uppers where connected

 

but yesterday, when i swapped the 2wd axle for a 4wd axle we where lucky enough to not need the jack

[Akula69]

Blue88Comanche, on 11 Jul 2016 - 11:52 AM, said:

we used a small bottle jack after the uppers where connected

 

but yesterday, when i swapped the 2wd axle for a 4wd axle we where lucky enough to not need the jack

X2, and we still had to use two floor jacks and a rachet strap attached to an eye bolt on the wall of the garage.

[rokinn]

I managed to get the axle turned using a combination of a come-a-long and a long pry bar wedged into the bracket that sits forward and to the top of the axle tube and a floor jack on the end of the bar.  It worked pretty well for the drivers side.  On the passenger side that approach didn't work due to the track bar mount etc.  Used the come-a-long and the bar in the ball joint bracket and torqued on it.  Also used the spring press as well as disconnecting the sway bar from the frame.  Of course someone had stuck a #2 grade bolt (had a 2 on it anyway) in one of the bushing bracket holes which immediately broke off.  Had to drill it out and tap it to the tune of several hours. 

 

Anyway the conversion is done.  It's not a job for the faint of heart.  Took me the better part of six days to do.  It was a pita every step of the way.  I am however impressed with the improved handling.  The old control arms were total crap.  No more shimmy and shakes.

 

Thanks for the input.  Will post some details about what's been done soon.  I appreciate this site.  Also didn't know it would be this much work when I bought this thing.  rrm