03 cobra front control arms

[94-302-vert]

Well my new front control arms arrived today... Seems easy enough, but anyone have any advice to offer? Planning to start this tomorrow night.

Thanks Guys.

 

[juiced_94gt]

When there on put a load on the suspension (put the car on ramps) if not you will cause a bind in the suspension, also remember to be careful with the spring, and hit the SPINDLE NOT THE BALL JOINTS OR TIE RODS WITH THE HAMMER!!!

 

[juiced_94gt]

When there on put a load on the suspension (put the car on ramps) if not you will cause a bind in the suspension, also remember to be careful with the spring, and hit the SPINDLE NOT THE BALL JOINTS OR TIE RODS WITH THE HAMMER!!!

LOL I meant dont tighten the bolts on the control arms until you have a load on the suspension...I confused myself LOL.

 

[Therian]

Well my new front control arms arrived today... Seems easy enough, but anyone have any advice to offer? Planning to start this tomorrow night.

Thanks Guys.

mind if I ask where you bought them from?

 

[95Mustang302]

be prepared to use a torch, we had to torch mine out...

 

[DocZG]

crazy i had 185k on my car when i redid my bushings/bjoints/springs/shocks and with the help of some WD40 everything came off like it was put together the day before.....

 

[hookups333]

How are the 03 04 cobra control arms different from ours?

 

[95Mustang302]

they have stiffer bushings, better ball joints and an improved design to improve the turning radius

 

[94-302-vert]

I got them at oemfordparts.com .. they were the only ones I found that had them in stock (besides ebay that is)... and actually had the best price too...

 

[juiced_94gt]

be prepared to use a torch, we had to torch mine out...

No thats only if he's putting new bushings in the stock ones, hes just replacing the whole control arm as an assembly, theres just two bolts per side holding it to the k-member.

 

[95Mustang302]

no see if you live in the northern area's there is a lot of salt in the winter whic means corrosion and the steel bolt will seize to the steel bushing, causing a problem wher eyou can't get the bolt out so you have to torch the bolts to get the arm out...

 

[juiced_94gt]

no see if you live in the northern area's there is a lot of salt in the winter whic means corrosion and the steel bolt will seize to the steel bushing, causing a problem wher eyou can't get the bolt out so you have to torch the bolts to get the arm out...

WOW really I guess im lucky to be in sunny Cali where i cand take my exhaust bolts whenever i want without using WD-40 or Liquid Wrench

 

[95Mustang302]

yeah, not so lucky here, esp my car. Mine was a chicago car and was driven year round before I got ahold of it, so its got some bolt issues and some small rust issues

 

[milewsky80]

no see if you live in the northern area's there is a lot of salt in the winter whic means corrosion and the steel bolt will seize to the steel bushing, causing a problem wher eyou can't get the bolt out so you have to torch the bolts to get the arm out...

Ya the back bolts on my front arms were really bad. Me and my dad took an air chisel with a punch tip on it and just went off on the bolts for 10-15 mins. Slid right out after that haha

 

[Therian]

Use PB plaster heavily...it will win, if you give it time (most of the time)

 

[94-302-vert]

Well I just gave up for the night... Once I got it in the air I worked 30 mins I got one ball joint bolt loose but not off yet (using 3 feet of leverage). Tomorrow I am going to pick up some WD40 or PB blaster (Can't find mine since the move) and a pickle fork...

I Hope I don't have to torch out the bolts as I don't have a torch....


Any other words of advice? This is a NH car so it is pretty nasty under there.

 

[juiced_94gt]

Well I just gave up for the night... Once I got it in the air I worked 30 mins I got one ball joint bolt loose but not off yet (using 3 feet of leverage). Tomorrow I am going to pick up some WD40 or PB blaster (Can't find mine since the move) and a pickle fork...

I Hope I don't have to torch out the bolts as I don't have a torch....


Any other words of advice? This is a NH car so it is pretty nasty under there.

LOL USE A HAMMER AND HIT THE SPINDLE...IF WILL POP RIGHT OFF IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS!!!!!!!!!

 

[94-302-vert]

Yeah I tired that.. with both my 16oz and 24OZ hammer... I POUNDED on it.... It is probably rusted together... grrrr...

 

[divit250r]

Yeah I tired that.. with both my 16oz and 24OZ hammer... I POUNDED on it.... It is probably rusted together... grrrr...

May need the bigger hammer theory here... I used a 3 lb. mini-sledge to knock mine apart. One little tip: When you start putting things back together, use your floor jack to compress the spring and control arm up and pinch the ball joint so it doesn't spin as you tighten it. I did this and was able to use a large combination wrench to tighten the ball joint nut. It's also helpful for the tie-rod end nut.

Scott

 

[lietuvis91]

so spring compressors are not required for this job? I took the passenger side appart yesterday, had a field day separating the nucle from the ball joint, but the bigger hammer theory worked

now i have to figure out howvto put hings back together,
...so use a floor jack instead of spring compressors huh???

also...
what do you guys do w/ the nucle/spindle once the control armis off ??? I bolted it back up to the shock, cuz i didnotwant to break the breakline, but now it's in my way.any other ideas?