replacing control arms and bushings, here is what I learned

[evilnickwong]

Assuming the control arms are not bent or anything, I'm assuming there is no wear in them since it's steel? Or do they get 'worn' after several years and changing them anyway will help improve steering feel?

[Adrian_Visser]

I would think that they would have to hit a stationary object like a rock or something to bend them, the bump forces are transmitted to the struts and I don't think that just hitting bumps really hard would cause the control arms to bend, as for wear the balljoints and control arm bushings are what wear.

[Cobra Jet]

Adrian, just curious - what brand BJ's did you purchase and was that price a BC price for all 4 or US pricing that you posted?

[Wanian Mano]

Sound and looks like tough job to do. But I guess you're an expert in car thing so you can fixing it even if it give you lot of time to make it right. I am learning. Thank you

[Slangbox]

I would think that they would have to hit a stationary object like a rock or something to bend them, the bump forces are transmitted to the struts and I don't think that just hitting bumps really hard would cause the control arms to bend, as for wear the balljoints and control arm bushings are what wear.

Or a curb... :(

[Adrian_Visser]

Dropping the subframe is easy just support the engine with a block of wood or something under the oil pan and undo the nuts on the engine mounts undo the PS banjo bolts onto the rack it does drain all the fluid out but w/e, then put a jack under the subframe to support it then it's just four bolts holding the subframe on undo them and lower the subframe it seriously took like 20 minutes to do. Have not tried the other way but this worked for me.

I paid about $145 CDN for the four balljoints, compared to buying the whole control arm I saved about $50 a side,

BUY THE WHOLE ARM!!!!

this is seriously not worth the fucking effort I wanted to know for sure if it was easy to do myself... well IT ISN"T!

took em to work to use the press fucking 20 tons of pressure all i managed was to pop the threaded stud part through the bottom of the joint leaving the outer part still in the arm, used a socket to try and get the outer part out out scared the living shit out of myself when the fucker slipped, HEAT IS NEEDED so I said fuck it and gave up I will admit I wasn't very persistent but fuck what pain in the ass IMHO it is worth it to pay the extra $100 for new arms. /end rant

[madformx5]

I agree! This is nice to know. If it is this big of a PITA to change them I would just rather spend the extra 100 bucks to buy the new arms. The ball joints are bad in the car I just bought so this isn't to far in my future.

Dropping the subframe is easy just support the engine with a block of wood or something under the oil pan and undo the nuts on the engine mounts undo the PS banjo bolts onto the rack it does drain all the fluid out but w/e, then put a jack under the subframe to support it then it's just four bolts holding the subframe on undo them and lower the subframe it seriously took like 20 minutes to do. Have not tried the other way but this worked for me.

I paid about $145 CDN for the four balljoints, compared to buying the whole control arm I saved about $50 a side,

BUY THE WHOLE ARM!!!!

this is seriously not worth the fucking effort I wanted to know for sure if it was easy to do myself... well IT ISN"T!

took em to work to use the press fucking 20 tons of pressure all i managed was to pop the threaded stud part through the bottom of the joint leaving the outer part still in the arm, used a socket to try and get the outer part out out scared the living shit out of myself when the fucker slipped, HEAT IS NEEDED so I said fuck it and gave up I will admit I wasn't very persistent but fuck what pain in the ass IMHO it is worth it to pay the extra $100 for new arms. /end rant