Hey y'all! I'm new to this forum, so bear with me. I have a '93 Dodge Dakota 4x4 with the 318 in it, I am replacing the lower control arm bushings but first, I am having issues removing the LCA.

I've removed the sway bar, ball joints, shock, CV axle, and torsion bar, and removed the front pivot bolt by the bumper, but I am having a hard time removing the rearmost pivot bolt. The head of the bolt slides out but it hits the differential axle mating surface, it won't physically come completely out without hitting it, so therefore I cannot remove the LCA from the truck.

Would my best bet be to cut the bolt, and then buy a new hardened bolt but install it in reverse so I can actually get it back I ? I'm trying to explain this the best I can, but if anyone can help me out that would be awesome.

 

Hello Daniel,

Welcome to the forum. Cutting the bolt is exactly what I did. Took the pieces to a local hardware store and matched up. No way would I take the front diff. loose to save those bolts.

 

Thank you, I am glad I found a good forum for Gen 1 Dakota's. That'll help me along the way, this is my first truck and I thought I did well with only paying $500 for a running and driving truck.

I will do just that, just wanted some assurance in doing it that way, to see if someone else had figured it out.

 

Hey Daniel, We are glad you joined as well!! In the real world, there is not a lot of interest in the 1st gen. dakota's. We are a small group!
BTW if you dont already know, you can use a 97 up energy suspension poly control arm bushing kit on these trucks. They are identical other then one of the lower bushings. But the problem with it, is , its too long. You can cut the length and they work fine in these trucks. Myself and several others have done this.

Here is a link to one of the kits available. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Energy-Susp...JaKuzb&vxp=mtr

 

After many hours of research, I did find the bushings and have known about the 97 poly's for a little while now. Ordered an entire kit, as well as full suspension kit for the front end.

Just curious, the reason I am replacing the bushings is because the whole wheel had been shifted back a good inch from the fender well. I figured I'd take it all apart to redo every bushing, ball joint, anything suspension wise; while also figuring out what may have caused the LCA to shift back. Would bad bushings cause this?