Suspension Rebuild Help

Hey all. I'm putting the suspension back on my '72 Duster and I've run into an issue and need some advice. I've got stock lower control arms with new pivot shaft bushings and new bumpstops on them. I'm using the Mancini strut rods and Moog strut rod bushings (#K7040). I got the passenger side all installed with no issues. I connected the strut rod to the control arm, put the pivot shaft through the hole in the K frame, and the strut rod slid right in with no problems. The driver's side is a different story, though. I'm having big issues getting everything to go in. I tried the same method as I did on the other side of the car and the lower control arm is still at an angle. The bumpstop hits right on the corner of the frame rail pocket, rather than right in the center like on the other side of the car (see picture). I can't ever get the pivot shaft to pull the arm the rest of the way over, either because the bushing on the strut rid is already wedged right up into place in the k frame. Can somebody give me some advice as to what's going on? Hopefully the pictures will explain a little better.


You can see where the bumpstop is hitting in relation to the pocket on the frame. It is not centered up and the arm looks like it is not sitting perfectly perpendicular to the frame rail.


You can also see that there is still quite a bit of room left before the pivot shaft bottoms out against the k frame. It will not pull all the way in.


I believe it is because the strut rod bushing will not sit square in the hole. This is the two piece bushing with the metal sleeve pressed into the rubber and the metal sleeve will no align with the hole in the k frame when attached to the lower control arm.

Sorry for the long post. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

If I had to guess I'd say you have strut rods that are too long. Perhaps they sent you b-body length rods instead? I can measure the stock b-body units I have if that would help.

I agree the strut rod is to long but before getting worried about that I'd be taking a hard look at the rust on that frame, if the outside flange is that rusty how much metal is still on the top, Then the inside of the bottom of the frame rusts away....

I thought the strut rods were the issue too. They are longer than the rods I pulled out of the car. But why would the passenger side go in so easy and with no issues if they were too long? I'll try to get a picture tonight showing the length difference and what bushings I'm using.

We are all correct...one rod is longer than the other! Problem solved. Thanks for the input guys.