Replacing control arms - how hard?
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 468
Replacing control arms - how hard?
I need to change the control arms (transverse links) and plan to buy new ones. How hard of a job is this? The shop manual shows having to remove the lower strut bolts and separating the drive shaft from the knuckle. Is there an easier way to do this? I've seen earlier posts that just list disconnecting the sway bar links and using a ball joint press to remove the ball joint from the knuckle. Any suggestions or pics?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 468
That sounds fairly straight forward. The shop manual says to separate the drive shaft from the knuckle - I'm assuming that's so you can get the ball joint tool in there. Did you use a ball joint press? If so, any problem getting it in there without separating the drive shaft from the knuckle? Also...what is the small cover with 3 bolts on the bottom of the ball joint for? The shop manual calls it a compression rod bushing clamp.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 468
That's even easier! So just back out the nut and give it a good whack to loosen it? The shop manual shows using a separator, but their procedure is to inspect the arm. The separator they use would preserve the ball joint boot.
Originally Posted by goldmax
That's even easier! So just back out the nut and give it a good whack to loosen it?
Originally Posted by mzmtg
I think he meant how does he remove the control arm?
Ok....
1) Jack up both front wheels and set the car on jack stands.
2) Remove the wheels.
3) Disconnect the sway bar end links and pivot the sway bar up and out of the way.
4) Remove the cotter pin from the ball joint stud.
5) Loosen the ball joint nut and unscrew it until the top of the nut is flush with the top of the stud.
6) Slip the straight end of a crowbar between the ball joint stud and the CV joint.
7) Hit the other (curved) end of the crowbar with a hammer. Hit it like you are trying to drive the crowbar between the stud and the CV joint (you are). Don't hit it like you are trying to pry them apart.
8) The ball joint should pop loose from the spindle.
9) Remove the ball joint nut and swing the control arm down away from the spindle.
10) Removing the other ends of the control arm is pretty straight forward...
This method does not damage the ball joint or its boot.
Ok....
1) Jack up both front wheels and set the car on jack stands.
2) Remove the wheels.
3) Disconnect the sway bar end links and pivot the sway bar up and out of the way.
4) Remove the cotter pin from the ball joint stud.
5) Loosen the ball joint nut and unscrew it until the top of the nut is flush with the top of the stud.
6) Slip the straight end of a crowbar between the ball joint stud and the CV joint.
7) Hit the other (curved) end of the crowbar with a hammer. Hit it like you are trying to drive the crowbar between the stud and the CV joint (you are). Don't hit it like you are trying to pry them apart.
8) The ball joint should pop loose from the spindle.
9) Remove the ball joint nut and swing the control arm down away from the spindle.
10) Removing the other ends of the control arm is pretty straight forward...
This method does not damage the ball joint or its boot.
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