I plan to lower Next week Thursday, in the mean time I’m trying to get as prepared as possible so that this goes like clock work.

Work to be done:
Strut/Shocks
New Axle Change (Driver side)
New Driver Side Control Arm.

For Struts and Axle seems to be pretty straight forward. The Control arm is where my question lie. What tools are needed? I’ve read a few how to’s including the FSM, and they motion a Ball joint remover, used to separate the tie-rod outer end and lower ball joint. Can this be picked up at any local auto store, I remember a thread where someone had purchased the tool on e-bay I believe.

Is taking off the control arm as easy as the FSM makes it seem?

Remove wheel bearing lock nut
Remove tie-rod ball joint.
Remove strut bolts
Take out axle
Separate lower ball joint stuff from the knuckle.
Remove remaining bolts (1,2,3)

Reverse install new control arm.

Axle hasn’t been leaking, should the seal be replaced?
The Cotter pin that come out before take that 36mm bolt off, a new one does need to be put in right? If so just get one from local store.

Torquing back bolts, I have a torque wrench, but it only goes up to 80 ft-lbs. How hard is torquing in the 100s by hand?

Yea some noobish kind of question, but this will be the first time touching the suspension myself, and I would rather get the posts out of the way now, rather than post when the car is jacked up and all taken apart.

thanks

 

bump bump . . .

 

I would replace the seal if you remove the axle. Its relatively straight foward, its just that some parts are TQ'd on good and some are caked or rusted on from years of road abuse

 

Cool. My main worry now is the control arm, just getting that beast off.

I would need this to separate them ?


Then the rest is just big *** tight bolts to break loose?

 

i changed a control arm recently and we didnt use any tools, just a hammer and stuff.

 

Worked out fine? What was your process, if you dont mind giving me a step by step. Thanks.

 

bumpity bump bump. . .

 

maybe I over complicated my question. How hard is it to change the control arm? is a special tool needed to separate the ball joint?