Driver Side A Arm (Replacment)
appreciated
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
No video, but the upper arm is extremely simple. Separate upper ball joint using a ball joint separator or automotive fork, which frees it from the knuckle. Then the only thing holding it on are the 2 large bolts. You'll have to remove the plastic debris shield, but that's just 4 or so small hex bolts that attach it to the inner wheel well, and I don't think there are any lines attached to it like there are on the passenger side. Not sure if you have to remove the shock from the upper mount or not, since every time I've done mine the shock has already been out.
EDIT: for some reason, I read your post as only replacing the upper A-arm. For the bottom, things get a bit more involved, but not much. Separate the lower ball joint same as the top and do the same thing on the outer tie rod end, then unplug the ABS sensor and you can swing the knuckle to the side. Remove the shock via the 2 bolts attaching it to the lower A-arm and the one bolt on the chassis, remove the sway bar by either one of the bolts (bar-to-endlink or endlink-to-arm). I think that's all for the bottom, though to access the bolts securing the bottom arm I had to remove the lower engine mount support brackets (or whatever they're called). They don't actually support the engine, just provide reinforcement I guess. They run diagonally, and blocked access for me to one of the bolts. 4 bolts and a nut attaching that and it's out of the way, then you can remove the 2 bolts/nuts holding the lower A-arm in place.
EDIT: for some reason, I read your post as only replacing the upper A-arm. For the bottom, things get a bit more involved, but not much. Separate the lower ball joint same as the top and do the same thing on the outer tie rod end, then unplug the ABS sensor and you can swing the knuckle to the side. Remove the shock via the 2 bolts attaching it to the lower A-arm and the one bolt on the chassis, remove the sway bar by either one of the bolts (bar-to-endlink or endlink-to-arm). I think that's all for the bottom, though to access the bolts securing the bottom arm I had to remove the lower engine mount support brackets (or whatever they're called). They don't actually support the engine, just provide reinforcement I guess. They run diagonally, and blocked access for me to one of the bolts. 4 bolts and a nut attaching that and it's out of the way, then you can remove the 2 bolts/nuts holding the lower A-arm in place.
Last edited by StealthLT4; Jul 21, 2010 at 12:43 PM.
