I put front brakes on my 73 Comet today and noticed that the lower control arm has terrible play on the end where the cam bolts go through, not the ball joint end. Any one know how difficult it is to change those inner bushings?
Its sounds like you need to replace the lower control arm to. Its not the hard. You need to take the lower ball joint off the wheel and unbolt the control arm from the frame.When you do that you will need to get a front end alignment. Good luck
I've always put in a new lower control arm if I'm going to the trouble of taking it apart. That bushing has a part number, so it may be available separately. Here's a diagram. Not sure if it is a press fit or friction fit.
Yeah, I ordered the parts today. There was 2 possibilities, a 1 and 9/16 diameter and a 1 and 11/16. Hate to spend the money on a whole arm if I can put the bushing in for 9 bucks + some time. can I drop the lower arm without compressing the spring as long as I have the suspension hanging?
Yes, as long as your shock and everything is still all bolt together up there, you can remove the lower control arm and not worry about the spring. If you don't have a shop manual, send me a PM and I'll copy it to you. Eric J
i just replace the lower arm...new ball joint and bushing comes with it...i think the bushing is a press fit...JMO...frank...
i bought 2 lower control arms because the lower ball joints were $45 a piece and the lower control arm was $55 with the ball joint already on it.... hmmm...doesnt take an accountant to figure that one out... got them from autozone..... it was fairly easy and the alignment shop charged me a little more for the alignment since it was WAY OUT of adjustment... i could hear the guy cussing about having to work so much on a simple alignment.... LOL
the alignment should not have been "way out" from replacing the lower arm...the price should have been what ever they charge to do any alignment...frank...
I know some shops charge more for an alignment on older vehicles ... the amount the alignment is out shouldn't make a difference ...
i agree...but he was 40 dollars cheaper than a few other places....i guess i had the eccentric bolt out a little farther than he woul dhave liked...as in...not have to work to align a vehicle..move a bolt or two and make an easy buck...you know mechanics...they are all scam artists.... well most are anyways...at least the ones that i have dealt with
Thanks all, I got it installed today in less than 1 hour. Not bad for a scam artist mechanic huh? I have been working as a mechanic for 30 years now and I don't think I have scammed anyone yet. I was just curious as to how difficult this job might be as I have done little work on these kinds of front end set ups. As for aligning front ends, it looks easy til you try it sometime. I did alignments for a year at a local tire store and you earn your money.
