Front Lower Control Arm Replacement
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 416
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Front Lower Control Arm Replacement
Does anyone have a link to a how-to or can give me a short description of how to replace a front lower control arm?
I think my lower ball joint is bad.
According to the shop manual I need a leaf spring compressor. Is there some way around that? If not, where can I find one?
Would it be easier to get the lower ball joint free and press it out and a new one in with the LCA still on the car?
Thanks guys!
Rob
I think my lower ball joint is bad.
According to the shop manual I need a leaf spring compressor. Is there some way around that? If not, where can I find one?
Would it be easier to get the lower ball joint free and press it out and a new one in with the LCA still on the car?
Thanks guys!
Rob
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 11,216
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From: Pensacola Florida GO GATORS!!! www.rlsebring.com www.c6c7vette.com
St. Jude Donor '17
Does anyone have a link to a how-to or can give me a short description of how to replace a front lower control arm?
I think my lower ball joint is bad.
According to the shop manual I need a leaf spring compressor. Is there some way around that? If not, where can I find one?
Would it be easier to get the lower ball joint free and press it out and a new one in with the LCA still on the car?
Thanks guys!
Rob
I think my lower ball joint is bad.
According to the shop manual I need a leaf spring compressor. Is there some way around that? If not, where can I find one?
Would it be easier to get the lower ball joint free and press it out and a new one in with the LCA still on the car?
Thanks guys!
Rob
GM in their infinite wisdom made the ball joint part of the LCA so the joint is not available separately.
I personally replaced mine this way:
Remove wheel. Un-bolt shock. removed nut from sway bar end link and moved it out of the way. Removed nut from ball joint and knocked ball joint loose. The LCA dropped pretty easy on it's on. Not much pressure from the spring. Unbolted the 2 cam bolts from the frame bracket holding the LCA. Installed new LCA in the reverse. Only thing different was I used a floor jack when the time came to get the lower ball joint stud up into the hub assembly for tightening and putting the shock in the proper position. Reconnected everything and had the front realigned. All is well.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 416
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
GM in their infinite wisdom made the ball joint part of the LCA so the joint is not available separately.
I personally replaced mine this way:
Remove wheel. Un-bolt shock. removed nut from sway bar end link and moved it out of the way. Removed nut from ball joint and knocked ball joint loose. The LCA dropped pretty easy on it's on. Not much pressure from the spring. Unbolted the 2 cam bolts from the frame bracket holding the LCA. Installed new LCA in the reverse. Only thing different was I used a floor jack when the time came to get the lower ball joint stud up into the hub assembly for tightening and putting the shock in the proper position. Reconnected everything and had the front realigned. All is well.
I personally replaced mine this way:
Remove wheel. Un-bolt shock. removed nut from sway bar end link and moved it out of the way. Removed nut from ball joint and knocked ball joint loose. The LCA dropped pretty easy on it's on. Not much pressure from the spring. Unbolted the 2 cam bolts from the frame bracket holding the LCA. Installed new LCA in the reverse. Only thing different was I used a floor jack when the time came to get the lower ball joint stud up into the hub assembly for tightening and putting the shock in the proper position. Reconnected everything and had the front realigned. All is well.
I believe pfadt and other aftermarket have LBJs for sale a la carte.
Good to know that you didn't need to mess with the spring. When you did it, did you have the entire front end in the air, or just the corner?
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 11,216
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From: Pensacola Florida GO GATORS!!! www.rlsebring.com www.c6c7vette.com
St. Jude Donor '17
Up in the air because I was actually putting in another spring while replacing the LCA because of a bent LBJ. I dropped both LCA's with no problem from the spring. Even putting in the spring was not much of a problem either.
You could do one side with only the corner up though.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 11,216
Likes: 178
From: Pensacola Florida GO GATORS!!! www.rlsebring.com www.c6c7vette.com
St. Jude Donor '17
I didn't even look at the performance aftermarket. I just figured if GM didn't offer it separately it would probably be a PITA otherwise. Besides with the shop discount I think I paid around 130.00 for the LCA with the stock BJ in it.
