Replace lower front control arms

[johnm]

Hey all. I have a little bit of a wiggle in my front suspension, not bad but noticeable. Anyway, the pathy has 128000 miles on it, and I believe the problem to be the driver's side, lower control arm, rear bushing. I don't seem to be able to find just bushings for it, so that means replacing the whole control arm. Here's my dilemma: The service manual says to replace the control arm you have to disconnect the front drive axle. To do that, you have to take the cap and parts off the end of the drive shaft on the outside of the hub. So here's my questions:

1) I'm not sure I can do this myself. Has anyone done this and where does it score on a 1-5 wrench skill scale? (I do have access to the base auto hobby shop so have a lift and special tools and things, so i wouldn't be doing it in the driveway.

2) If I'm replacing the control arm, should I do the ball joint at the same time?

3) Should I do both sides at the same time?

[XPLORx4]

First, you can buy replacement polyurethane bushings for the front A-arms at 4x4parts.com. You do need some creativity to get the bushing off the A-arm, though. I don't remember exactly how I did it, but I think it involved a vise and a sledge hammer. The front bushing may have involved the use of an air chisel.

 

It's very easy to remove the A-arm, and does not require removal of the CV axle. All you need to do (once the truck is in the air and the wheels are off) is to remove the front bolts and rear bolts holding the A-arm to the frame, and remove the 3 14mm nuts holding the A-arm to the lower ball joint. The A-arm should drop right out.

 

If you decide that the ball joint is also in need of replacement, then you will need to pull the axle out of the hub. Remove the hub cap and remove the snap-ring holding the axle to the drive flange. Remove the 6 bolts holding the inner CV to the differential case and pull the axle away from the hub enough so that there's adequate clearance to pull out the ball joint. Tip: whack the side of the knuckle using a 2-lb sledge to knock the ball joint out. The impact will pop it up; you don't need a pickle fork.

Edited July 29, 2010 by XPLORx4

[johnm]

Thanks XPLOR, for the fast reply. I should be able to do the control arms if I leave the ball joints in place. I'll check out the bushings at 4x4parts.

[XPLORx4]

Front A-arm rear bushings

 

Front A-arm front bushings