I installed my new control arms today (pics)

Stangfreak95 · Apr 20, 2004

I decided to install those today. Was a little bit afraid cause I never worked on suspension before, and I was alone also. Everything went ok. A few tricky things though, if you are alone to do this. Compare my STOCK VS AFTERMARKET. Unbelievable

*Dont mention my rusty rotor. I already know it.

drizztkun · Apr 20, 2004

oh... floor jacks... i have a faint memory of those... but then i had a g/f and a father in law and then access to a lift

i think the worst was the beds... you see i have long hair and they had the habit to tangles in the wheel and hurt me really bad... enough that once i thought id have to cut my hairs

zoma · Apr 21, 2004

You weren't kidding, huge difference between those!

Boss 351 · Apr 21, 2004

woooo Canadian Tire jack and jackstands

Nice arms, you must work out a lot

Stangfreak95 · Apr 21, 2004

Boss 351 said:
woooo Canadian Tire jack and jackstands

Nice arms, you must work out a lot

Wish I had a bigger jack. Would make things way easier sometimes.

Stangfreak95 · Apr 21, 2004

drizztkun said:
oh... floor jacks... i have a faint memory of those... but then i had a g/f and a father in law and then access to a lift

I have a brother in law with a garage and lift, but he'd never open his shop on a Saturday just for me to work on my car.

drizztkun said:
i think the worst was the beds... you see i have long hair and they had the habit to tangles in the wheel and hurt me really bad... enough that once i thought id have to cut my hairs

That propably hurt like hell man

5literttop · Apr 21, 2004

What Control arms are those and how much did you pay for them, if you don't mind me asking?

drizztkun · Apr 21, 2004

You bet it hurts

and for the garage of the father in law it's on a farm its his own garage at home eheh

zoma · Apr 21, 2004

Stangfreak95 said:
Wish I had a bigger jack. Would make things way easier sometimes.

I hear there's a 5 finger discount going down at Canadian PifPaf .

Boss 351 · Apr 21, 2004

I don't think he was talking about the hydrolic lift jack he has under the car... just repeating what his g/f said j/k

85GTlover · Apr 21, 2004

Did you have any trouble with the old bolts? Mine are tighter than a nun, and are in worse shape. Car is 85. Do the new arms come with new bolts? I want to cut my bolts off. L ooks like you did one side at time I heard you will run into trouble if you do not do it that way. They look like quality arms to me.

Stangfreak95 · Apr 21, 2004

5literttop said:
What Control arms are those and how much did you pay for them, if you don't mind me asking?

They're the X2C Motorsports control arms. Like I said before, only heard good things about them for quality/price. And once you have them and look at them, you can tell how strong they are. Cant wait to try them.

I wasnt gonna start spending a chitload of money in suspension. I only want subframes and control arms. I know that the BIG companies that make the really good adjustable stuff are expensive but the product is amazing. I just wanted something to re-enforce the rear. I think those will be perfect for what I wanted. Fairly cheap. For the 4 pieces with shipping, it came to about 230$ CAN.

I know for a fact that they're out of order for the moment. Click here

Stangfreak95 · Apr 21, 2004

85GTlover said:
Did you have any trouble with the old bolts? Mine are tighter than a nun, and are in worse shape. Car is 85. Do the new arms come with new bolts? I want to cut my bolts off. L ooks like you did one side at time I heard you will run into trouble if you do not do it that way. They look like quality arms to me.

Some bolts were pretty tough to get off. Dont forget that I'm working on the floor. I could imagine how yours should be ceased for your 85. My 95 has no rust at all (no winters). I did one side at a time. Thats what I read. I didnt have my mustang book with me so the only documents I based myself to do it are these.
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/03/controlarms/index.shtml

http://www.corral.net/projects/subzero/szlowers.html

They didnt come with new bolts. 2 bolts from the lower control arms were in OK condition. I just sanded them a little bit to get rust off. But all the bushings from the new arms were all ENERGY stuff, if I remember correctly. There's one bushing that they didnt have (its the one that goes in the SQUARE of the upper arm). I knew about it before I bought them. Some people change them, some dont. Its for the upper control arms, on the axle side. Mine didnt look too bad. And the upper are a real piece of cake to do compare to the lowers, so I might just buy 2 new bushings one day but I doubt that I'll do that.

Stangfreak95 · Apr 21, 2004

Today, I remove the QUAD shocks. My new control arms will do their job even better now. It was suggested by the company to remove them, in their insruction sheet.

85GTlover · Apr 22, 2004

So I am going to have to get other bolts if I wreck them I guess. They are seized I am sure. I will spray them like crazy and try a while before the last resort. I would change all bushings as mine is almost 20 years. I too am on the ground I have the two back stands on blocks to make it easier and Am in th process of repairing any rust. Did you read about the trolley jack at C.T? I bought one today, it is a good deal for 20.00. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, it is appreciated.

Stangfreak95 · Apr 22, 2004

85GTlover said:
So I am going to have to get other bolts if I wreck them I guess. They are seized I am sure. I will spray them like crazy and try a while before the last resort. I would change all bushings as mine is almost 20 years. I too am on the ground I have the two back stands on blocks to make it easier and Am in th process of repairing any rust. Did you read about the trolley jack at C.T? I bought one today, it is a good deal for 20.00. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, it is appreciated.

I actually went to Canadian Tire today and I didnt see any jacks for 20$ I saw one for 25$, similar to my red little hydrolic one, but it was a different company. It was gray if I remember correctly..

My bolts were hard to loose up. I had to put a key hanging on the bolt, and hit it with a big hammer. A few good hits and they were loose. I used 2 jacks for my install. I really needed both of them at the same time sometimes. A few stands are needed as well (3). You'll need a 18mm key and deep socket 18mm as well. Mmmm...15mm key and socket as well, ratchet (1/2 preferable). I only have a 3/8 and was stucked with an extension (3/8 to 1/2)which was a PITA sometimes because you're working in a pretty tight space. You'll also need a breaker bar (16-18" or so..I'm not sure). Some kind of "punch" to get the bolts out. I used a 1/4in extension for that. Thats pretty much what I used. I really am not a pro at this but read the documents from the links I posted and those will help you a lot. Just follow the steps and everything should be alright.

*Important note*: I had 2 stands holding the rear of my car at all time. they were placed on each side of the rear axle. Before you get the first bolt out(which is for the lower control arm, on the axle side), you need to put a jack under the control arm to support the spring. Cause once that bolt is out, the spring will be loose as well and the only thing holding it will be that jack under the arm. But before letting the jack go down (pretending you got the bolt out), PUT ANOTHER STAND UNDER THE FRAME, between the door and the axle, where you would normally jack you car up, because your rear will be totally unsupported now, since you got that 1st bolt of the lower control arm.

Anyway man, just read the documents. Feel free to ask me for help anytime.

MontrealFive0 · Apr 22, 2004

hey mario,
they look really sharp (especially the yellow bushings )
it's too bad that they are sold out, i probably would have bought a pair.
Keep us updated on the good work and good luck on the gauge install.

85GTlover · Apr 23, 2004

It is a 2Ton low profile trolley jack. It was not advertised I noticed the 19.99 at my feet. Maybe they are trying not to sell them. I bought one today(yesterday) ask an employee, unless it is a store only special.

85GTlover · Apr 23, 2004

QUALIFIED is the name brand of the jack.

Stangfreak95 · Apr 23, 2004

85GTlover said:
QUALIFIED is the name brand of the jack.

OK. I'll propably go take a look tomorrow. Its definately not the one I saw yesterday.

I installed my new control arms today (pics)

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