Has anyone changed their front lower control arm bushings/ball joints themselves?

[Dimitrios]

Per the subject, I'm looking to replace the front lower control arm bushings with urethane pieces in the next 2-3 weeks (replacing front strut mounts).

FSS suggests it fairly straight forward except for needing the special service tool to press out the bushing from the control arm

What about the ball joint. Any reason to swap it out now?

2003 Protege5 at ~ 75k miles

 

[njaremka]

the ball joint is not replaceable - i think you have to change out the whole control arm for that.

 

[Dimitrios]

Thanks; I just read your post on that very same in a different thread.

Good times, good times on the the design there.

 

[Protege5 Driver]

the whole plate has to go. be sure when instaling the new arm/plate before tightening it make sure it is perpendicular with the chasis

 

[red95_240sx]

what do u mean perpedicular?

 

[Protege5 Driver]

when you put it in it would tend to bendo down. lift the plate with a jack until it is at a 90 degree angle with the chasis

 

[red95_240sx]

u mean 180???

 

[Protege5 Driver]

180 is a straight line...

 

[red95_240sx]

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ok u mean 90 with the length side being the other side, rather than the width of the chassis.

 

[Protege5 Driver]

ok lets me put it this way
when you instal the new plate use the jack to push it up. just how it looks when it is on all 4 tires

 

[red95_240sx]

and then tighten it? lol i just dont uderstand where the 90 angle is supposed to be?

 

[Protege5 Driver]

ok at least you got the idea

 

[red95_240sx]

so who has done one themselves? im stuck with the balljoint

 

[red95_240sx]

i bet its becuase the clamping bolt that i ddint remove, but onyl un bolted runs through this grove on the balljoint??

 

[njaremka]

so, did you figure it out, red? looks like you have to remove that bolt, not just loosen it.

 

[red95_240sx]

no. im gonna take it out this time and try again.

 

[Dimitrios]

Interesting. So there's a bolt running through the joint and it's not just pressed into the arm?

 

[red95_240sx]

yeap. not completely through it, but the balljoint is groved. like a half cotter pin.

 

[red95_240sx]

oh i forgot to say that thats why i wudnt com eoff

 

[Dimitrios]

But is the pin removable?