Very bad run of luck on control arms swap. WTF! - Infamous Nissan

JOHN92 · 11-05-2011, 03:51 PM

I came across a set of Chassistech control arms that a buddy had sitting in his garage so I figured I'd give them a try for some more lift.
Here's how my run of bad luck began:

1. The AIM arms don't have cross shafts so I pressed them out of the stockers. That was the one thing that went right. It goes downhill from here.

2. I didn't like the way the AIM bushings looked and the inner sleeve was too small to fit over the stock cross shaft. So I tried to re-use the stock bushings and ended up getting something jambed up so I took them to my friend who has a press to get them back apart.

3. I ordered some MOOG bushings from advanced auto. We tried to press the new bushings (listed for Hardbody) into the AIM arms with no luck. They just wouldn't go. In the process, one of my cross-shaft's threads got completely screwed because of us having the press set up wrong once and jambing a 1/2" socket over the threads. :o
At this point we're done because now I need a cross shaft. I return the bushings the next day and suprisingly they take them back.

4. I go to the junkyard and get TWO control arms (from the same truck for the cross-shaft and a spare) When I get home and try to separate them, I realize that the bushing sleeves on both of them are completely rusted to the cross-shaft. I don't know if there's something I can use to free them up.

5. So here I stand now with 2 rusted arms, 2 bushingless AIM arms and my stock arms stripped down with currently 1 useable cross shaft still after running all around yesterday. A good few days of working and running around with no positive results. What a bummer.

I need to either get a good cross shaft from somewhere and piece it all back together with the pile of stuff I have now, or free up the junkyard set for the parts I need, or break down and order me a set of Cando Uppers which I believe will come all together with bushings, cross shafts and everything. Anybody got any suggestions/help for any of these three scenarios?

Minitruckin_Dina · 11-05-2011, 04:45 PM

Damn brotha sorry to hear this wow tons of work and nothing is done. Gotta love what u have or else it would be gone. Hope u solve this issue soon.

sparkinframe · 11-05-2011, 06:41 PM

what about bring in the good cross shaft, and the aim UCA to a parts store and get them to find you some energy bushings that will work for both.

as for the second cross shaft, just cut the bushings out of the UCA than cut/burn the bushings off the cross shaft.

Ice · 11-05-2011, 10:00 PM

last time i "tried" to install AIMS arms on a nissan ... they were 7/8" too long ....
you may want to double check those arms and make sure the length is right.....

JOHN92 · 11-06-2011, 02:13 AM

Well I did at one point have them rigged up enough to test fit everything. They are longer but everything still tucked fine. I am really leaning towards Candos because even though I'll be paying forthem, I know I'll have quality stuff. I don't even think the AIMs are 100% straight.

11-05-2011, 03:51 PM	#1
JOHN92 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Jersey Age: 44 Posts: 1,273 Vehicle: 1988 Nissan Hardbody Thanks: 72 Thanked 111 Times in 95 Posts	Very bad run of luck on control arms swap. WTF! I came across a set of Chassistech control arms that a buddy had sitting in his garage so I figured I'd give them a try for some more lift. Here's how my run of bad luck began: 1. The AIM arms don't have cross shafts so I pressed them out of the stockers. That was the one thing that went right. It goes downhill from here. 2. I didn't like the way the AIM bushings looked and the inner sleeve was too small to fit over the stock cross shaft. So I tried to re-use the stock bushings and ended up getting something jambed up so I took them to my friend who has a press to get them back apart. 3. I ordered some MOOG bushings from advanced auto. We tried to press the new bushings (listed for Hardbody) into the AIM arms with no luck. They just wouldn't go. In the process, one of my cross-shaft's threads got completely screwed because of us having the press set up wrong once and jambing a 1/2" socket over the threads. :o At this point we're done because now I need a cross shaft. I return the bushings the next day and suprisingly they take them back. 4. I go to the junkyard and get TWO control arms (from the same truck for the cross-shaft and a spare) When I get home and try to separate them, I realize that the bushing sleeves on both of them are completely rusted to the cross-shaft. I don't know if there's something I can use to free them up. 5. So here I stand now with 2 rusted arms, 2 bushingless AIM arms and my stock arms stripped down with currently 1 useable cross shaft still after running all around yesterday. A good few days of working and running around with no positive results. What a bummer. I need to either get a good cross shaft from somewhere and piece it all back together with the pile of stuff I have now, or free up the junkyard set for the parts I need, or break down and order me a set of Cando Uppers which I believe will come all together with bushings, cross shafts and everything. Anybody got any suggestions/help for any of these three scenarios? __________________

11-05-2011, 06:41 PM	#3
sparkinframe Canadian, eh. Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Victoria B.C. Canada Age: 34 Posts: 2,007 Vehicle: 1992 Nissan Hardbody Kingcab Thanks: 9 Thanked 27 Times in 25 Posts	what about bring in the good cross shaft, and the aim UCA to a parts store and get them to find you some energy bushings that will work for both. as for the second cross shaft, just cut the bushings out of the UCA than cut/burn the bushings off the cross shaft. __________________ Why go half assed, when you could go FULL BLAST!!! Build thread ----->http://www.infamousnissan.com/forum/...read.php?t=225

11-06-2011, 02:13 AM	#5
JOHN92 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Jersey Age: 44 Posts: 1,273 Vehicle: 1988 Nissan Hardbody Thanks: 72 Thanked 111 Times in 95 Posts	Well I did at one point have them rigged up enough to test fit everything. They are longer but everything still tucked fine. I am really leaning towards Candos because even though I'll be paying forthem, I know I'll have quality stuff. I don't even think the AIMs are 100% straight. __________________

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11-05-2011, 04:45 PM	#2
Minitruckin_Dina Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 113 Vehicle: 95 King Cab 2.4 Daily Driver, 00 S10 Xtreme on Bags, 99S10 Xtreme on bags, 73 Datsun 620 Project Thanks: 7 Thanked 7 Times in 4 Posts	Damn brotha sorry to hear this wow tons of work and nothing is done. Gotta love what u have or else it would be gone. Hope u solve this issue soon.

11-05-2011, 10:00 PM	#4
Ice Banned Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: >>>over there>>> Posts: 1,776 Vehicle: 50000 BC Flinstone 4 seater, with dual foot brakes Thanks: 3 Thanked 21 Times in 14 Posts	last time i "tried" to install AIMS arms on a nissan ... they were 7/8" too long .... you may want to double check those arms and make sure the length is right.....