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Thread: Important note about Import Direct Upper Control Arm Pivot Rod Kit

  1. #1

    Dr_Snooz's Avatar
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    Important note about Import Direct Upper Control Arm Pivot Rod Kit

    While I had my car apart for the front-end refresh, I decided to replace the pivot rods for the upper control arms. Mine were noticeably worn and O'Reilly had a replacement kit, so I went for it.


    Import Direct Chassis Control Arm Bushing Kit

    The kit is good, and includes everything you need to replace those tricky inner bushings. I recommend this kit over anything else because the bushings are more substantial than what Moog seems to be turning out now. Every time I do this job, it gets the better of me. I tried Honda's bushings for my first attempt way back in the '90s. They bound on install and wouldn't go all the way into the arm. I beat them in and they squeaked and scrubbed for the 10k miles they lived before tearing themselves apart. The Moog replacements I bought were much better. They didn't bind and lasted well. The Moogs I bought this time did just like the Honda parts. They bound on install and when I beat on them, they simply came apart, tearing rubber and deforming the flimsy, thin metal beneath.

    I bought these to replace the damaged Moogs and I like them much better. The metal used is thicker and the rubber doesn't seem as happy to bind up in the arm and not go in properly. I also greased them up with assembly lube instead of white grease prior to install, which seemed to help a lot. The assembly lube is less likely to get pushed out when sliding the bushing into the arm.

    So I recommend the kit with one important caveat. The kit comes with a serrated face lock nut. It looks like this:



    It seems like a great idea to put a lock nut on the end of that pivot rod, but this nut will lock the entire assembly in place. In other words, the pivot rod won't pivot. Simply throw the nut out and use a no-locking nut instead, though it's probably wise to use some blue Loctite and a decent torque wrench. Torque spec for this nut is 40 lbs-ft.
    Last edited by Dr_Snooz; 08-02-2020 at 07:46 AM.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


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  2. #2

    ShiRen's Avatar
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    Re: Important note about Import Direct Upper Control Arm Pivot Rod Kit

    Fasteners on suspension need to be a thread locking type such as a top lock or ny-lock, locktite might be ok

  3. #3

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    Re: Important note about Import Direct Upper Control Arm Pivot Rod Kit

    Well, it's been the same non-locking nut on there for the last 3 sets of arms. So far the blue stuff is holding. Maybe it will stop now.

    If you want to seek out special hardware, a distorted thread would be good. l don't know why I distrust nylocks, but l do. Then I trust Loctite. Crazy, right?
    Last edited by Dr_Snooz; 08-03-2020 at 09:22 PM.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

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  4. #4


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    Re: Important note about Import Direct Upper Control Arm Pivot Rod Kit

    Those arms stock are hard to setup and not bind like you said. When I ran stock I would run a longer bolts and double nut so I could run the arm loose, not in tension.

    Other thing about Nylock locks is really there one use only.
    1988 Lxi owner since August 1995
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  5. #5

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    Re: Important note about Import Direct Upper Control Arm Pivot Rod Kit

    I wasn't saying there was anything wrong with your loctite lol, but you can't use a serated flange nut, as much as I love them, thats why all the factory bolts are top locks.

    The bolt itself has a wide shank doesn't it, can you find a longer bolt that fits the bushings well?

  6. #6

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    Re: Important note about Import Direct Upper Control Arm Pivot Rod Kit

    Not wide, but knurled in spots. It passes through with minor difficulty. That whole setup is one of the great mechanical mysteries of the last century. l really have no clue how it works, what rotates and what remains stationery, or why it's such a mother to overhaul. I just know that the serrated nut won't work.

    This is the second time I've bought a kit with serrated nuts. Both times they've locked the assembly in place. Both times l had to dig the old nuts out of the trash and worry that l didn't replace nuts marked "Replace" in the manual. They've always held fine, but this time they won't, just so they can make me a liar. That's how things work for me.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

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  7. #7

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    Re: Important note about Import Direct Upper Control Arm Pivot Rod Kit

    I thought the knurls increased the OD a bit... guess I'd have to measure

  8. #8

    Dr_Snooz's Avatar
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    Re: Important note about Import Direct Upper Control Arm Pivot Rod Kit

    Yeah, a bit. Nothing very noticeable until you try to insert it.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

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  9. #9
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    Re: Important note about Import Direct Upper Control Arm Pivot Rod Kit

    Hey Snooz, I was gonna replace the UCA bushings but found a kit just like this on RockAuto which I can ship to UK.

    How did your pivot rods look on the upper control arms? did they need the replacement?

    I wanted to get the kit but only 1 left annoyingly! trying to figure out if its worth holding out.

    1989 Aerodeck EXI, stored for 13 years, now being brought back to life.
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  10. #10

    Dr_Snooz's Avatar
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    Re: Important note about Import Direct Upper Control Arm Pivot Rod Kit

    Well, I'm kinda picky and I've replaced them twice in the 150k miles I've owned the car. Each time, they were noticeably worn. They weren't close to being a safety issue though. So wherever you land on that spectrum lol.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

    Shop manual downloads available here: CLICK TO VIEW

  11. #11
    LX User Sandwich's Avatar
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    Re: Important note about Import Direct Upper Control Arm Pivot Rod Kit

    Yeh I got through to their team and they sorted me out, i think im gonna need the bolts mine are likely 130k oem...

    1989 Aerodeck EXI, stored for 13 years, now being brought back to life.
    A 'small' project...

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