replacing lower control arms what is the easiest

[ryein7]

i am trying to figure out what the easiest way to do this is, i think i did it wrong on the first side. i am talking about the front lower control arms. It seems that if i compressed the spring that is in the strut that i would be able to move and lift the whole hub/strut assembly onto the ball joint. this is what i had trouble with last time because once i got the new control arm bolted to the subframe i couldnt push the arms low enough to swing the hub on or lift up the hub to get it onto the ball joint. i hope this is making sense to someone... so is compressing the spring a little the secret to this or am i just missing it. I can say my experience with replacing the drivers side control arm and strut rod bushings was so bad that i am debating taking it to a shop unless someone experienced can lend some helpful tips this SHO has definitely been a learning experience all the other cars i have owned/worked on were easy as ****

 

[K-Dawg]

Get a big pry bar in there to pry the control arm low enough so that the ball joint will fit in the bottom of the knuckle.

 

[hawkeye18]

get a large piece of pipe, or a very large crowbar, and slot it on top of the LCA and under the subframe by the rear subframe bushings, and use leverage to your advantage. You will be able to lower the LCA more than enough to get it into the knuckle. A second person is a virtual necessity in this task.

 

[whiteman_01]

What i do is take the pinch bolt for the ball joint out, and use a nice big screw driver to open it up a bit. I then use my jack handle between the strut rod and the subframe to bring the LCA down far enough to get the ball joint free.

 

[ryein7]

ok, well i am talking about getting the new arm on, that makes sense though now, it is just that the strut rod hits the subframe and i didnt think i would be able to pry it down, but i guess the bushings might flex enough and if you guys have done it this way before then that is good enough for me to try it on the other side.

 

[ManySHOs]

ok, well i am talking about getting the new arm on, that makes sense though now, it is just that the strut rod hits the subframe and i didnt think i would be able to pry it down, but i guess the bushings might flex enough and if you guys have done it this way before then that is good enough for me to try it on the other side.

I use a jack handle. Wear gloves and make sure you don't slip and smack yourself in the face. It's easy to do if you're not paying attention to where you're prying down.

Ian

 

[K-Dawg]

I've seen worse around these parts.

 

[SHOtime2511]

I spry pnted my whip tooday yo. it looks mad HOT!

 

[hawkeye18]

 

[newby92]

it makes it alot easier to push down on the control arm if you loosen the bolts that hold it to the subframe... this frees up the bushings so you can push it down with a stiff shove from you hand, are maybe a gentle push with a crow bar. this is how i have always had to do it because i ran into the same problem.

 

[Toul]

Done it by myself about 6 times now. As much as I'd like to say I did it like that just prying down, i couldn't get it to drop down enough for me. I actually ended up prying down/slightly jacking up the spindle and strut and while braced with something behind me, pushing the floor jack with the spindle slightly compressed towards the car till it was just enough to get the tip of the lca in the pinch bolt hole. Then carefully (while still maintaining pressure with my feet on the jack) lowering the spindle onto the top of the lca. After removing the jack out of the way, a few well placed kicks would get the spindle to drop down and fully seat on the lca.


Safe? Not at all, but if I had to go out and do it again right now that's how I would do it. Practice makes perfect, I only almost broke my nose doing it once, and that was a lesson on how not to do it. I'm pretty comfortable with my technique.

Disclaimer. I don't recommend doing it this way, get a long prybar and get a second set of hands.

 

[93rev2sev]

Solid steel weight-lifting bar.

Add about 30lbs of weights to the end...it'll pull down on the LCA plenty...