Control Arm Question

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by Rick27

Yeah, unfortunately that's what I've heard. I figured I'd change the front arms and ball joints first. I'd love to do it all, but since I don't have the DIY skills, the cost is prohibitive to do it all at once.

You'll save on labour if you get the front stuff all done at once (once the wheels are off and they've got the tools out, its not much hassle to remove and refit all the arms etc.)

however I understand not being able to buy all the parts at once - without a doubt the parts are way more than the labour!

[faranks]

Just want to ad that replacing the ball joint only is really difficult. I tried to save a few bucks and go that route; it took an acetylene torch, big hammer, big vice, big pickle fork, and about 70 whacks before mine came out of the control arm. Buy the arm that has it pressed in already, it will have a new bushing as well.

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by faranks

Just want to ad that replacing the ball joint only is really difficult. I tried to save a few bucks and go that route; it took an acetylene torch, big hammer, big vice, big pickle fork, and about 70 whacks before mine came out of the control arm. Buy the arm that has it pressed in already, it will have a new bushing as well.

The tension strut or the other control arm?

The tension strut is not sold with a bj pressed in, they are separate but you can put them together before you install it if you like to make it into a complete unit. Not much benefit though - they install into each other easily anyway.

As for removal of the tension strut, it can be removed with the bj attached - the bj is screwed into the wheel knuckle/hub with / screws, you can undo these without splitting the bj from the tension strut, then just undo the tension strut on the bushings side - no bj splitting required and then install new tension strut and new bj. HOWEVER you may fond the bj is seized inti the knuckle - with mine, got the 2 screws out just fine, split the bj with 2 blows of my construction sledge hammer (not met a bj yet that can resist this hammer) but the bj was siezed up there in the knuckle, not moving. In the end, it took a blow torch and air chisel to get out of it's little home.

As regards the other control arm, it is all one unit with the bj on the end and not available as separates, and on this one the bj threaded end goes direct into the knuckle, so it is not removable without separating the bj one way or another. Again, a 20kg sledge hammer with 2" handle makes it easy if you don't have the proper splitter.