Front control arms

[SHOZ123]

Anyone replace the control arms or bushings in the front? Moog says you need 4 bushings to do the front at 10$-15$ each.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

I have a set of the forward bushings I bought for my '97, but was never able to find a set of the rear bushings and the information I had at the time was that they were only available with new arms.

Since changing to the '99 I've found that the forward bushings are different on the '98+ cars than on the '96/7 cars in that the later cars use a larger (14mm as opposed to 12mm IIRC) bolt.

 

[SHOZ123]

This drawing shows that but for the '99s.

 

[SHOZ123]

Apparently the change came at 5/98. Part 4 is the front bushing and part 9 is the rear bushing.

The bushings are available OEM and I have found the rear bushing in MOOGs catalog as part number K8415. But Moog list this for all Taurus and Ford has a special rear bushing part for the SHO.

 

[naval-avi8or]

Apparently the change came at 5/98. Part 4 is the front bushing and part 9 is the rear bushing.

The bushings are available OEM and I have found the rear bushing in MOOGs catalog as part number K8415. But Moog list this for all Taurus and Ford has a special rear bushing part for the SHO.

Paul,

I can remember when I did my conversion that the only parts that were diferent from SHO to NON SHO was the SARC parts. everything else was identical between the two. I wonder if its the same part with different part numbers. Be fun to see listen to the parts guy/gal explain that one.

 

[JEM]

Paul,

I can remember when I did my conversion that the only parts that were diferent from SHO to NON SHO was the SARC parts. everything else was identical between the two. I wonder if its the same part with different part numbers. Be fun to see listen to the parts guy/gal explain that one.

If my experience collecting parts for my '91-to-Gen3-subframe swap is any guideline, part #9 in that illustration is a swaybar bushing, not a control-arm bushing.

 

[SHOZ123]

You may be right. But there is a bushing that is not in this picture then. It is on the other end of the #3 part.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

You may be right. But there is a bushing that is not in this picture then. It is on the other end of the #3 part.

I also was pretty sure that illustration was showing a swaybar bushing. This may go back to why I told that the rear a-arm bushing was only available with a new arm. I just checked my Mitchell and MicroCat databases, and neither show a P/N for the rear bushing.

Have you tried emailling Torrie? I can also check with Ford when I get home from FL in a couple of weeks.

 

[naval-avi8or]

I tried to check parts on several on line web sites (ford) and they have removed all the Taurus SHO from the selection. Now all thats there is taurus g and when you select it all you can get under mechanical is service no parts.

Paul prior to replacing your could you feel the play by hand. I have mine all apart and could change them out but I have checked for play and can't seem to feel any.

 

[SHOZ123]

There was no obvious play although after looking at them there are some small tears in the front bushing. This is another of those extreme maintenance items that most would not be bothered with.

It does appear that only one bushing is available for replacement. You must have to order a new control arm to get the other bushing.

 

[JEM]

There was no obvious play although after looking at them there are some small tears in the front bushing. This is another of those extreme maintenance items that most would not be bothered with.

It does appear that only one bushing is available for replacement. You must have to order a new control arm to get the other bushing.

That's my understanding from having talked to the Ford dealer, also that there's no difference in the arms and bushings SHO vs non-SHO. I think I bought the last pair of OE Ford front bushings that fastpartsnetwork could locate (as well as those sway-bar-bushings-that-might-have-been-rear-arm-bushings.)

One thing I will note here: these bushings are similar (nay, identical) in design (if not in size) and some markings to those used in BMWs and other Euro hardware, and I'd be willing to bet that they're made by one of the Euro OEMs.

So if someone wanted to try to source these things I'd start with Meyle and Lemforder.

 

[SHOZ123]

I priced out the new control arms at about $120 each......

 

[crixtopher]

There was no obvious play although after looking at them there are some small tears in the front bushing. This is another of those extreme maintenance items that most would not be bothered with.

It does appear that only one bushing is available for replacement. You must have to order a new control arm to get the other bushing.

that is correct, when I first bought my SHO I got some bad advice and was told I needed one side's control arm bushing replaced. after research I found earlier SHOs you could replace just the bushings but GenIII you had to buy the entire arm, which I did. at that point I switched to a friend mechanic, he told me the advice was bunk but I had him switch it anyway while he was doing ball joints etc.. I still have this other arm and theres nothing wrong with it, bushings are there and undamaged , if you want to buy it for much less than $120 pm me.

 

[Ian Macoomb]

I wonder if this is the source of the front end clunk that I've been chasing for like two years. I've replaced subframe bushings, swaybar bushings (multiple times), endlinks (multiple times), struts (& springs), strut mounts and tie rods (inners & outers).

 

[JEM]

I wonder if this is the source of the front end clunk that I've been chasing for like two years. I've replaced subframe bushings, swaybar bushings (multiple times), endlinks (multiple times), struts (& springs), strut mounts and tie rods (inners & outers).

FWIW the rear arm bushing looks like a very durable design, but the front bushing is a smaller version of a bushing that on some BMWs is known to have an optimal lifespan of about 60-75K miles and will show cracks in the rubber at that point - they don't clunk, but the front end develops a bit of wander.

 

[ManySHOs]

I realize that this is an old thread but I noticed that rockauto now has a listing for the rear horizontal bushing:

ACDELCO Part # 45G9342 {#19195089}
BUSHING,FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM -; REAR, HORIZONTAL MOUNT
* Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 12 business days

$21.79

Has anyone tried this part?

I may order a pair for my gen3 SF conversion.

EDIT: After re-reading this thread, I'm not sure which control arm bushing is supposed to be difficult to locate but rockauto has listings for both the horizontal and vertical bushings.
Ian

 

[SHOZ123]

The rear bushing has always been only avaiablle with a new control arm.

But being as it is almost completely enclose there is not much "aging" going on. Only the ends are exposed. But it looks like it is a shared part for all Taurususes from 1996+.

Do you guys going from G2>G3 subframe shove it as far forward as possible?

 

[black92]

I realize that this is an old thread but I noticed that rockauto now has a listing for the rear horizontal bushing:

ACDELCO Part # 45G9342 {#19195089}
BUSHING,FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM -; REAR, HORIZONTAL MOUNT
* Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 12 business days

$21.79

Has anyone tried this part?

I may order a pair for my gen3 SF conversion.

EDIT: After re-reading this thread, I'm not sure which control arm bushing is supposed to be difficult to locate but rockauto has listings for both the horizontal and vertical bushings.
Ian

I tried ordering those, and the Rockauto rep. told me they were not available. This was August of 2008.