installing 03 cobra front a-arms.

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robertdale

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Jan 31, 2002

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kentucky

Sep 30, 2005

#1

• Sep 30, 2005

• #1

I just got my 03 cobra front a arms today. They were $175 shipped. Comes with new ball joints and bushings. Also at the same time I am planning to replace the tirod ends and rack bushings. Anything I need to know before I tear into it?

 

WhiteDevil

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Feb 4, 2003

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San Diego

Sep 30, 2005

#2

• Sep 30, 2005

• #2

Not sure, but let us know how it goes, maybe with pics, i might be doing something similar to mine.

 

TrueBlue95GT

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Sep 29, 2003

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Connecticut

Oct 1, 2005

#3

• Oct 1, 2005

• #3

Mark your old tie rod ends before you take them out so that you can match the new ones when you put them in. At least you can drive to the alignment shop without any problems if you do that.

 

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BLT2BTU

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Aug 6, 2005

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upstate NY

Oct 1, 2005

#4

• Oct 1, 2005

• #4

whats the benefit of the 03 arms?

 

yellowstang1994

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Sep 9, 2004

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Oct 1, 2005

#5

• Oct 1, 2005

• #5

Hi, i'm planning on doing this very soon... Seeing as my balljoints and tierod ends are bad.

BLT2BTU - The advantage of 03 cobra a-arms are that it gives you a 10% more steering radius. On top of that you get the high friction balljoints and better arm busings already assembled. Say your balljoints went bad and you were going to replace them. you'd have to take them out and press new ones in. Usually shops charge near $500 for work like that. What I'm doing is getting the 03 a-arms with everything already assembled and doing the install myself.


robertdale - i'm doing the install myself and it seems pretty straight forward. you already know about taking the spings and shocks off. Just be careful with that. Probably the hardest part is getting the old a-arm off, lol. Good luck, and let me know how it goes or if you'd do anything different. If you have time maybee even a small write up? Good luck again!

 

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robertdale

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Jan 31, 2002

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kentucky

Oct 1, 2005

#6

• Oct 1, 2005

• #6

Yea I'll tackle it in the morning. I'll do a little write up when I get it going good and get to the alignment shop.

 

juiced_94gt

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Mar 30, 2005

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Southern California

Oct 1, 2005

#7

• Oct 1, 2005

• #7

robertdale said:

Yea I'll tackle it in the morning. I'll do a little write up when I get it going good and get to the alignment shop.

Click to expand...

let's us know if they really "significantly reduce impact harshness" as it states in the jegs cataloge, in very curious about this, also see if the car feels different then with stock arms, by the way, where did you buy them from?

 

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bimmertech

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May 3, 2005

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merriam, ks

Oct 1, 2005

#8

• Oct 1, 2005

• #8

juiced_94gt said:

let's us know if they really "significantly reduce impact harshness" as it states in the jegs cataloge, in very curious about this, also see if the car feels different then with stock arms, by the way, where did you buy them from?

Click to expand...

i bought mine from downs ford about a year and half ago. as far as impact harshness goes, i cannot comment as i did springs struts cc plates all at the same time.

 

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robertdale

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Jan 31, 2002

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kentucky

Oct 1, 2005

#9

• Oct 1, 2005

• #9

Well I got the passenger side on this evening. It went pretty smooth only problems were I had to cut the ball joint nut off because it would just spin with the joint. Also I had a heck of a time getting the spring back in the car. Are there any tricks to getting the spring in any easier? I bought the arms from http://www.oemfordparts.com/

Ordered them on monday got them thursday.

 

juiced_94gt

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Mar 30, 2005

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Southern California

Oct 1, 2005

#10

• Oct 1, 2005

• #10

robertdale said:

Well I got the passenger side on this evening. It went pretty smooth only problems were I had to cut the ball joint nut off because it would just spin with the joint. Also I had a heck of a time getting the spring back in the car. Are there any tricks to getting the spring in any easier? I bought the arms from http://www.oemfordparts.com/

Ordered them on monday got them thursday.

Click to expand...

if their stock springs your gonna need a spring compressor, or a really big prybar which is what i used to use at the bodyshop, if you have lowering springs you just need to push down on the arm and push it in...MAKE SURE YOU TIGHEN THE CONTROL ARM BOLTS WITH THE CAR AT RIDE HEIGHT(WHITH IT'S WEIGH ON THE TIRES) OR YOU WILL CAUSE BIND..THE ARMS SHOULD MOVE FREELY UP AND DOWN WITH THEIR OWN WEIGHT WHEN THEY ARE TORQUED DOWN TO 180 FT. LB.

 

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robertdale

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Jan 31, 2002

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kentucky

Oct 1, 2005

#11

• Oct 1, 2005

• #11

Yes I have stock springs and they are a pain to get back in. A big pry bar and alot of pushing finally got the spring in. I believe I'll try to find some way to compress the spring on the side I havent done yet.

 

95COBRA241

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Sep 3, 2005

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Delray Beach, FL

Oct 1, 2005

#12

• Oct 1, 2005

• #12

Are these actual a-arms for an 03-04 cobra or are they a modified part with the cobra bushings and low friction ball joints?

 

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robertdale

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Jan 31, 2002

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kentucky

Oct 1, 2005

#13

• Oct 1, 2005

• #13

They are the actual a arms for the 03 cobra.

 

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robertdale

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Jan 31, 2002

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kentucky

Oct 2, 2005

#14

• Oct 2, 2005

• #14

Got it all together this morning and went for a test drive. The car is much smoother and more responsive now. I noticed my old bushing were cracked and looked bad. I never imagined it would smooth things out so much. Instead of a hard bump on potholes It is just a smooth dip. Well worth the money...

 

WhiteDevil

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Feb 4, 2003

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San Diego

Oct 2, 2005

#15

• Oct 2, 2005

• #15

Did you get it aligned yet? Does it change the wheel base at all? I thought i heard that somewhere.

 

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robertdale

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Jan 31, 2002

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kentucky

Oct 2, 2005

#16

• Oct 2, 2005

• #16

No I didnt get it aligned. It seems fine as is. I didn't change tie rods yet so I am waiting till this week when I change the tierods and steering rack bushings before I get it aligned. Don't know about wheel base yet I'll look this evening.

 

Car Nut

Founding Member

Jul 6, 2000

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Snellville, Georgia (Atlanta area)

Oct 2, 2005

#17

• Oct 2, 2005

• #17

I got these same A-arms installed a couple months ago. All my other suspension stuff was put on over a year ago and the overall ride was good, but much harsher than stock. With the new Cobra arms, the ride is very much improved. Any sized bump is simply soaked up.

I've got H&R Race Springs, so the ride was instantly harsher, but fine for daily use. Now with the new A-arms, my ride easily rivals the smoothness of the stock feel AND I have all the handling benefits of my suspension upgrades.

Definitely get a good alignment after this install. Alignment was no problem. I couldn't be happier with the results. Now I am really glad I went with the Race Springs.

I recommend this upgrade for anyone with high miles.

 

95COBRA241

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Sep 3, 2005

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Delray Beach, FL

Oct 21, 2005

#18

• Oct 21, 2005

• #18

robertdale said:

They are the actual a arms for the 03 cobra.

Click to expand...

Thanks to your thread, I went and ordered a set fron Bleakley Ford (best price I could find). Installed them today and what a difference. However, I have to be honest, the bushings and ball joints were so bad I am sure a new set of stock arms would be just as good. The ride is like when the car was new. I don't know what the 10% steering ratio is supposed to feel like, but the car rides real good. Thanks!:SNSign: