Upper Control Arms, Installation Suggestions?

by **98Rodeo** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:02 pm

Hi Guys,
I scored some calmini upper control arms for my Rodeo recently and am planning on installing them this weekend
I also have the extended brake lines so will do this at the same time.
Is there any suggestions or tips from anyone that has done this before?

Will be winding up the bars to level it with the back (extended shackles) and getting a wheel alignment done afterwards too

Thanks
Geoff

by **stardog** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:21 pm

Do the new arms have the bushes and fulcrum pin already installed on them if not you will have to use the old fulcrum pin of the old arms real fun to remove.
Those bushes are a bitch to remove lots of swear words doing mine the bottom bushes are just as bad to do as well.

by **98Rodeo** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:03 am

Good point, I have new bushes but i will have to use the old pin, think ill go with a socket extension and lots of grease to get it out, or if they were like the bushes on my rear shackles they will just fall out

by **geeves** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 11:28 am

Those bushes are a little tighter than the rear ones. Mine were done by a mechanic on a hydrolic press. I saw the plate Nitedemon used to do his. 12mm plate on each side with a 14mm fine thread bolt though the middle. The plate pulled into the bush housing more than its thickness

by **Demonic** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:21 pm

Lol, the 12mm plate with 16mm fine thread bolt (that did bend) was to do the lower arm bushes... and it took ages. I have a few pics of the top one ill post when i get home.

by **98Rodeo** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 3:39 pm

sounds like it could be fun then, thanks guys

by **stardog** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:22 pm

I dont know about fun mine wasnt fun invented new swear words doing them dam bushes they where tighter than a scotsmans grip on a 20 pound note.
When you get the bushes off the fulcrum pin and installing the new bushes on them in the arms watch you dont warp them with to much pressure putting the bushes in.

by **Demonic** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:00 pm

top are is easy, use a socket to push them in, put socket on large side and use the vise to clamp it in. just remember to put pin in after you do one side.

by **98Rodeo** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:41 pm

so I'm guessing the two bolts that go through the dumbell shaped bracket need to come out, but how do you get the control arm out?
does that bracket inbetween each side fall out so you can get the pins out of each end?

by **stardog** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:06 pm

Have you downloaded the workshop manual of this site if not you should doing this job on your truck isnt so straight forward getting the top arm off is the easy part. jack the car up remove wheel put a stand under the body lower on to it. drop top ball joint undo brake line undo 2 bolts that go through the fulcrum pin on to the chassie then try and remove the bushes to get the fulcrum pin out.

by **98Rodeo** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:24 pm

yeah have got it, read it a while ago though, have done all of that, just got to get one more bolt out from the pin as its a bit tight.

by **stardog** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:42 pm

I use a socket with a extension bar on it and a length of pipe to undo it. They are done up pretty tight good to hear you have got most of it done.

by **98Rodeo** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:14 pm

yeah, got both the bolts out, lots of wd40 and almost bent the breaker bar.
for some reason the ball joint want come out? any suggestions?

by **stardog** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:26 pm

put the nut back on and do up a few of turns losen your jack of the bottom arm thats holding it up then give the arm where your ball joint goes through a few good whacks with a big hammer. If that dont work get a ball joint seperater then try again my was realy hard to break never been changed before.

by **98Rodeo** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:31 pm

sounds good :-)

, tired jacking it up and down earlier to change the angle but had no luck, is it just the bolt thats holding it in there?

by **stardog** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:44 pm

The reason i put the nut back on becuase when it lets go it dosent drop the brake rotor on the ground and pull the cv out.

by **98Rodeo** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:45 pm

aaah, great tip :-)

by **stardog** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:51 pm

This is what it should look like

by **slightlydodgy** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:55 am

Whats the extra bit of bar work with the camil sticker? (I don't have it)

by **stardog** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:14 am

Its aftermarket suspension developed in south africa bolts on to top suspension arm where the top ball joint is has a coilover on it stiffens the front end up for road driving
I have replaced the coilover with a normal shockie bit softer ride now. The set up was on it when i bought it.Next time i have a front wheel off i must take a photo of it i took this photo when i rebuilt my front end new ball joints bushes top and bottom steering box shockies idler tie rods and few other things

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