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Upper a-arm bolt blocked

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by evren, Jan 26, 2026.

  1. Jan 26, 2026 at 10:28 AM
    #1
    evren

    evren [OP] New Member

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    I am replacing the upper control arm and lower ball joint on my 06 liberty with the 3.7L engine.
    The front left (driver side) bolts for the upper arm are hard to get to. The bolt to the front of the car backs out into the hard brake line near where it goes through the sheet metal to the flex line on the other side of the shock tower. I got it out, but I can't understand why they didn't put the bolt the other way, so it goes in from the front of the car and the nut goes in by the brake line where it won't be a problem. Is it ok to switch this around? Just to be clear the nut goes in from the front of the car and the bolt goes in from the back of the car. I just want to switch that so the bolt goes in from the front and the nut goes in from the back.

    Thanks.
     
  2. Jan 26, 2026 at 1:54 PM
    #2
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    If you’re able to torque to specs in the orientation desired, paint a witness mark on the nut/bolt that will show whether there was any movement.
     
    LYFZGOOD likes this.
  3. Jan 26, 2026 at 5:54 PM
    #3
    LYFZGOOD

    LYFZGOOD members

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    2.5” lift 32x11.50x15,cold air intake, Smittybuilt stainless steel Bumpers, rough county pocket flares,Rugged ridge seat covers and floor mats. Conversion LED headlights 20’ LED Light bar hardtop,soft top,bikini top.
    Does the bolt stick through too long and would hit on the brake line?? Or did i miss that?
     
    aggrex likes this.
  4. Jan 26, 2026 at 7:13 PM
    #4
    evren

    evren [OP] New Member

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    If you try to back it out it hits the brake line. You have to push on the brake line quite a bit to get the bolt out. I ended up putting it back in the original way because if you try to switch it the brake line obstructs the socket. Could use a wrench but won't be able to torque it
     
    aggrex and LYFZGOOD like this.
  5. Jan 26, 2026 at 7:16 PM
    #5
    LYFZGOOD

    LYFZGOOD members

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    2.5” lift 32x11.50x15,cold air intake, Smittybuilt stainless steel Bumpers, rough county pocket flares,Rugged ridge seat covers and floor mats. Conversion LED headlights 20’ LED Light bar hardtop,soft top,bikini top.
    Ok I thought maybe the bolt stuck through too far and would hit the brake line if you put it in the other way.
     
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