Front Lower Control Arm Removal

[DeNoZZo]

I have a lower control arm ordered thats supposed to get here on friday (ball joint bad). I figured I would pull the old one off tonight, but I don't know exactly how to get it off. Honestly, I havn't even looked at how to get it off. I'm assuming that I just take the two bolts off the arm holding it to the chassis, then the one on top of the ball joint. Is that right? Any special tools I'll need for removal, or the install?


Thanks!

 

[snowborder714]

You're correct. There's two bolts and the nut through the knuckle. Just some wrenches and a hammer. If you were ever to be worried about getting the arm off without messing up the ball joint/boot, you'd want a pickle fork. But since it's already ruined, just hammer it out from the top. If the stud ends up spinning when you try and remove the nut, you may need to maneuver the ball join around to keep the stud from moving/spinning.

You might want to hit the bolts/nut with some PB Blaster before hand. And if you have access to an impact wrench, they always make the job 100 times easier (especially on the nut).

 

[DeNoZZo]

thanks a ton man!

 

[wishnfor4g63T]

i'm pretty sure i have the same issue... my ball joint pops out in my driveway and pops back in... i have a zip tie around it to help guide it's self back into the joint.

I'm no suspension guru and getting repairs done this week. i had no idea what this part was untill now so thanks for posting this up. any pictures on this? btw what is the purpose of this part. i'm just wondering how much it has been hurting driving like this.

 

[stevo911]

Gunna need a big hammer and a even bigger steel bar if these are in for a while they get seized pretty good break fluid or heat will usually break them easy.

 

[DeNoZZo]

Gunna need a big hammer and a even bigger steel bar if these are in for a while they get seized pretty good break fluid or heat will usually break them easy.

The ones on the chassis came out easy because they have already been out just last year, when I took out my tranny.
Anyone know the size of the bolt holding the ball joint in?

 

[DeNoZZo]

i'm pretty sure i have the same issue... my ball joint pops out in my driveway and pops back in... i have a zip tie around it to help guide it's self back into the joint.

I'm no suspension guru and getting repairs done this week. i had no idea what this part was untill now so thanks for posting this up. any pictures on this? btw what is the purpose of this part. i'm just wondering how much it has been hurting driving like this.

Do not drive your car with a ball joint poping in and out like that. It can come out while your driving along and your wheel will be up in the fender hanging on by a thread, and you will most likely be skidding on the front of the car.

 

[stevo911]

Not sure about the size of the wrench I just did mine last week I suggest using the open end if its not too seized. I used the close end when I did mine bolts were on too tight didnt wanna strip them and after I got to the last 3 threads or so I had to push the ball joint out wrench got stuck on the CV. Even with the open ends youll get the nut off but wont be able to take it off completely until its pushed down a cm or so.

 

[knochgoon24]

The ones on the chassis came out easy because they have already been out just last year, when I took out my tranny.
Anyone know the size of the bolt holding the ball joint in?

It's a larger one. I think it's 22mm, but don't hold me to that.

EDIT: A trick to get the nut tight on the ball joint. Place a jack under the control arm and jack the car up. The additional pressure should create enough friction to keep it from spinning.

 

[stevo911]

5/8 I am thinking is the size cant remember if it was 5/8 or if thats the wrench I was using for leverage on the the one that was on the nut.

 

[98gsxtuner]

The bolt closet to the ball joint on my car was so seized i had to take an angle grinder to it.

 

[DeNoZZo]

It's a larger one. I think it's 22mm, but don't hold me to that.

EDIT: A trick to get the nut tight on the ball joint. Place a jack under the control arm and jack the car up. The additional pressure should create enough friction to keep it from spinning.

Well I don't have one that big, so I need to go out and buy one.... I just don't wanna waste my money on the wrong size.


I have a 23mm socket that fit on it pretty snug, but then again it didn't seem much bigger than my 21mm wrench. So it's either 22 or 23???

 

[DeNoZZo]

It's a larger one. I think it's 22mm, but don't hold me to that.

EDIT: A trick to get the nut tight on the ball joint. Place a jack under the control arm and jack the car up. The additional pressure should create enough friction to keep it from spinning.

you were right on the 22mm btw

 

[PIMking]

It's a larger one. I think it's 22mm, but don't hold me to that.

EDIT: A trick to get the nut tight on the ball joint. Place a jack under the control arm and jack the car up. The additional pressure should create enough friction to keep it from spinning.

That and the use of the end of a free wrench to put some pressure on it until it hits the wrench then pull it out and zip it tight.