The white stuff is coming lol, -

 

Well, a PSA: Bilstein 5125 shocks don't come with the spacer sleeve pre-installed in the lower bushing, and if you try to tighten them up that way, you'll break off the shock mounting tab on the LCA.

DAMMIT!!!!

EDIT: ... And the spacers that do come with them are only 35mm long, while the ones on the Ranchos I took out are 40mm. Probably would've snapped that tab anyway.
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Been there done that lol.

 

REALLY glad my wife's out of town, and I have the Jeep to drive. I'll give a couple yards a call to see if they have any low-mile arms before ponying up $160 for a new MOOG from RA. Was NOT planning to have to drop out the torsion bar and everything else for this job.

And I might have to put the Ranchos back in while I sort out the spacer issue.
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Why go with arms, The ford set up down there is half arss anyway. Doing it correctly with actual bushing bolts is the way to go.

 

I'd appreciate some explanation on this one, Brew. Feel free to PM me if you'd like so as not to clog up this thread. Thanks.

 

All you need to is use a proper sized 1/2" grade 8 farm bolt (bushing bolt) from the hardware to match tinsel strength. Grade 8 is very close to spec, close enough. 1/2" is just a hair larger in girth vs the original, you won't have to enlarge the bushing sleeve, but you might have to ream the LCA hole just a little. You want the bolt to fit tightly in the LCA port/hole. Slide or tap it in, then tack weld the bolt head to the LCA. You can't weld the tab back on, it's cast, but you can weld the bolt head to it once it bottoms out. I have a good tack on the heads in just two places...opposite sides and it's held over the years. Use a Nylon washered nut or a little Loctite on the bolts threads.

 

Btw, - only do the side that's broke. On the other side, shim up the tab spacing with 1/2" washer and the tab won't break.

 

I think I get it, Brew. You're talking about a bolt with a non-threaded portion by the head like this, correct?

I don't have a welder, though. As long as the bolt is a tight fit in the hole, and I get the proper length sleeve, it should be OK, right?
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From what I am reading and understanding from Brew's reply, that shoulder is too long on that bolt.