Front Control Arm install

When I redid my suspension not too long ago, I started off by doing one side at a time with the whole vehicle supported on stand in the front. From what I can remember step by step was:

1) Take wheel off.... of course
2) Remove brakes and hang caliper up
3) Remove outter tie rod end from spindle
4) Take Sway bar end link off
5) Place jack under control arm and raise up til arm is held
6) Remove bolts holding strut to spindle, and top nut on strut, remove strut
7) Remove nut on balljoint to take spindle off
8) Lower jack down while standing in front of the vehicle, and take long pry bar and push on the back side of the spring til it pops out.
9) Remove control arm bolts and install new arms.

That's what I can vaguely remember. I don't remember if I loosened the control arm bolts before or after I did this. I think they were loose so the arm would actually fall down when letting the jack down. I didn't have access to a spring compressor so I just stood in front of the car with the jack handle, lowered the arm, and took a long long pry bar and popped the spring out. It did not go flying out when I did mine.

The front bolts holding the control arms on the driver side are not easy to remove and install with the rack in place. I had a hell of a time with is just a warning for ya.

97stang_guy said:

I know after I do this I have to get it aligned. Will I be able to drive it to an alignment shop?

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I don't see why you couldn't. I drove mine after I put it all back together. I had to replace the tie rod ends and I did lower it with the bullitt suspension, along with some camber/caster plates. Mine did pull and it did need to be realigned.

As long as you have everything tightened up, take it in to get it aligned right afterwards. No need to go straight down the road and chew off your tires not knowing better.