Tighten control arm bushing loaded?

[b*saint]

Or it doesnt matter? There is something with the suspension tho that needs to be tightened loaded...

[FredK]

I'm pretty sure the rear trailing arm bushings, rear shocks to trailing arm, and subframe bushing need to be tightened in a loaded state. I believe the rationale is to prevent the trailing arm bushings from being preloaded while the car is at rest, otherwise this places strain on them that will cause them to wear prematurely.

The front control arm bushing lollipops don't need to be tightened while loaded; they just need to be installed and the car returned to the ground within 30 minutes, assuming you're using a solvent that evaporates fairly quickly to slip them onto the control arms.

[b*saint]

Alright. This weekend, in shitty weather, I will attempt. They are treehouse Bushings and brand new control arm assemblies.

[FredK]

If you're using Treehouse CABs, you don't have to return the car to the ground in any amount of time. They slip right on, and aren't meant to function in the same way that stock bushings do. They are a clearance fit bushing.

[b*saint]

Kinda like a slip fit. Thats what I figured.

[Mike]

I'm pretty sure the rear trailing arm bushings, rear shocks to trailing arm, and subframe bushing need to be tightened in a loaded state. I believe the rationale is to prevent the trailing arm bushings from being preloaded while the car is at rest, otherwise this places strain on them that will cause them to wear prematurely.

I was wondering about e30 rear ends, and how the toe and camber goes right out the window whenever you go with an aftermarket lowering spring back there. Everyone just seems to go straight for the poly trailing arm bushing upgrade, but don't hear too much about preloading the trailing arm bushings after a spring swap.

[FredK]

Yeah, this is true. If you change the angle of the trailing arm with respect to the ground by changing the rear springs, the stock rear trailing arm bushings would be preloaded differently.

I'm sure it's a fairly small effect (or angle change) between completely unladen vs. loaded, and stock vs. lowering springs. That is to say, by installing lowering springs, you're likely not preloading the bushings nearly as much as if you were to just tighten them while the car is up in the air.