New Control Arm VS Replace Bushings & Ball Joint

crazyone64 · Oct 10, 2019

Hi

Wondering what you guys would do between buying new FRONT lower control arms or just update the the bushings and ball joints?
I'm more focused on comfort/street, vs racing hardware.

I just finished a REAR LCA install which was quite a pain - but great learning experience!

Thanks!
Dan

stormsedge · Oct 10, 2019

I'd purchase new control arms. I think by the time I was done running them around to somebody with a press for the ball joints/ bushings...and/or beating them in/out myself if I were to get my vise mounted, I'd look back and wish I'd just bought them.

Olivethefet · Oct 10, 2019

Removing and installing the bushings is a pain. I did it without taking them to anyone, but it was a much bigger job them I gave it credit. If you are going to replace the old bushings with factory style I'd just buy the new control arm and call it good.

crazyone64 · Oct 16, 2019

stormsedge said:
I'd purchase new control arms. I think by the time I was done running them around to somebody with a press for the ball joints/ bushings...and/or beating them in/out myself if I were to get my vise mounted, I'd look back and wish I'd just bought them.

How about those rear upper control arms? I'm thinking of just getting the bushings for $50 vs $200 for new arms. I can rent that bushing removal kit and give that a try. I imagine the uppers are a much easier job vs lowers

Olivethefet · Oct 16, 2019

You can pick up a set of new factory style rear upper control arms for $100.

Mustang Rear Upper Control Arms (79-04) - LMR.com

Replace your Mustang's worn out rear upper control arms with these stock replacement control arms from LMR!

lmr.com

What kind of new rear uppers were you looking at getting? For the front control arms I ended up using a sawz all to cut out the old bushings. Had to be careful not to cut the control arm. Then used a ball joint removal tool that I rented from a local parts house to put the new bushings in. I had a vice that I was able to clamp the control arm in. If I hadn't had that it would have been a much harder job. The ball joint tool that I rented came from Advance I believe. It cost a lot to rent it but it had a ton of pieces to work with. Came in super handy. The one that O'Riley's rents doesn't have much to choose from.

This is the tool I used.

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

I had to use a piece of flat steel to push on one side. You dont have room to get the ball joint tool with adapters on both side on the control arm.

Like I said before it was a pain. I would think that the rear uppers wouldn't be too bad. Mine are in bad shape so I've got to replace them.

I'm getting ready to redo the rear suspension on my car soon.

crazyone64 · Oct 16, 2019

Olivethefet said:
You can pick up a set of new factory style rear upper control arms for $100.

Mustang Rear Upper Control Arms (79-04) - LMR.com

Replace your Mustang's worn out rear upper control arms with these stock replacement control arms from LMR!

lmr.com

What kind of new rear uppers were you looking at getting? For the front control arms I ended up using a sawz all to cut out the old bushings. Had to be careful not to cut the control arm. Then used a ball joint removal tool that I rented from a local parts house to put the new bushings in. I had a vice that I was able to clamp the control arm in. If I hadn't had that it would have been a much harder job. The ball joint tool that I rented came from Advance I believe. It cost a lot to rent it but it had a ton of pieces to work with. Came in super handy. The one that O'Riley's rents doesn't have much to choose from.

This is the tool I used.

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

I had to use a piece of flat steel to push on one side. You dont have room to get the ball joint tool with adapters on both side on the control arm.

Like I said before it was a pain. I would think that the rear uppers wouldn't be too bad. Mine are in bad shape so I've got to replace them.

I'm getting ready to redo the rear suspension on my car soon.

MattMan02GT · Oct 16, 2019

+1 on just getting replacement front control arms. You have to take them out anyway to do the bushings. I ordered my set from Rockauto and did the Moog problem solvers. You may or may not need to do a little persuading with a BFH to open or close up the bushing holes to match the new control arms.

Olivethefet · Oct 16, 2019

I found some pics that I took when I was rebuilding mine.

This is the ball joint tool and other bits I used to press the new bushings in.

Arm in the vice

Pressing the new ones in.

The outer part of the control arm wanted to bend in as I pushed in the new bushing so I just used a hammer to bring it back into position.

I bought the tool from Maximum Motorsports for pressing the upper control arm bushing in and out of the rear axle. That is where the flat piece of metal came from and now that I'm thinking about it again I believe that is the cup that I used. You can pick up the tool at MM for around $30.

Rear Upper Control Arm Bushing Tool

If you get the tool all you will need is the ball joint clamp.

If I was doing it again I might just buy the new control arms. I wanted to install poly bushings though. Thats why I went to all the trouble to do it myself.

flstang65 · Oct 27, 2019

unless you have the tools to do it right i would just buy the whole control arm and be done with it.

stormsedge · Oct 30, 2019

For my rears, I replaced both upper and lower control arms (from Maximum Motorsports)...used the MMotorsport tool to replace the rear UCA bushings.

wmburns · Oct 30, 2019

I can't begin to remember how many times I have used a rented press to replace ball joints. An yes it can be a total PIA job.

I always use hand tools. Never an impact gun. And yes it can be a real work out. Use the 1/2" sockets (not the 3/8" ones).

One thing leaned from experience is to make sure the press is in good shape. Do not accept a press that is expanded. This sometimes happens when the tool is abused. Make double sure that everything is straight and stays straight during the pressing process.

I also feel that you may get better quality parts by buying a name brand (Moog) replacement ball joint. You can bet that cheap Chinese part isn't built with top quality parts.

Regarding replacing the control arm bushings. Did that once. Took me 3 days to drill out and press out the old bushings. Never again. I will gladly pay someone with a professional press to do the job for me. What I did was a total cluster fu.......

New Control Arm VS Replace Bushings & Ball Joint

crazyone64

stormsedge

Olivethefet

I will own your nuts! LOL

crazyone64

Olivethefet

I will own your nuts! LOL

Mustang Rear Upper Control Arms (79-04) - LMR.com

crazyone64

Mustang Rear Upper Control Arms (79-04) - LMR.com

MattMan02GT

Active Member

Olivethefet

I will own your nuts! LOL

flstang65

stormsedge

wmburns

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New Control Arm VS Replace Bushings & Ball Joint

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