Control Arm Removal

[Mike_H]

Its time to grease my johnny joints. I'm feeling pretty dumb about it. I think I read somewhere that the front axle needs to be fully drooped so the springs aren't trying to rotate the axle and bind the joints. My experience would bear that out, as the one arm I pulled out yesterday was a royal PITA. Then I read about others whose arms slide in and out in no-time at all. Are my arms not the right length, or do I need to droop the axle? Inquiring minds want to know...

@taylormade73 yours came out without a fight, correct?

 

[mrblaine]

Its time to grease my johnny joints. I'm feeling pretty dumb about it. I think I read somewhere that the front axle needs to be fully drooped so the springs aren't trying to rotate the axle and bind the joints. My experience would bear that out, as the one arm I pulled out yesterday was a royal PITA. Then I read about others whose arms slide in and out in no-time at all. Are my arms not the right length, or do I need to droop the axle? Inquiring minds want to know...

@taylormade73 yours came out without a fight, correct?

My apologies, I thought you knew to take a floor jack and put it under the tie rod to relieve the pressure on the bolts. Yes, the springs are overhung forward so they are trying to extend the upper arms and compress the lowers.

You can do it with the axle drooped to take the load off the springs as well. My point was it is easier to remove and install one arm at a time. When you droop it, the axle gets pulled sideways so the bolt holes have to be misaligned to follow when the arm is put back in.

 

[CharlesHS]

IF you take out one at a time you should not have any difficulties reinstalling, but IF you had problems with the last one; then use a ratchet strap to assist you in realigning the bolt holes. IF the control arms are adjustable; DO NOT mess with the lock down adjustment nut.

 

[Mike_H]

My apologies, I thought you knew to take a floor jack and put it under the tie rod to relieve the pressure on the bolts. Yes, the springs are overhung forward so they are trying to extend the upper arms and compress the lowers.

You can do it with the axle drooped to take the load off the springs as well. My point was it is easier to remove and install one arm at a time. When you droop it, the axle gets pulled sideways so the bolt holes have to be misaligned to follow when the arm is put back in.

I didn't actually see your reply to my PM until just now...weird.

 

[mrblaine]

I didn't actually see your reply to my PM until just now...weird.

No idea what that is about.

 

[Mike_H]

My apologies, I thought you knew to take a floor jack and put it under the tie rod to relieve the pressure on the bolts. Yes, the springs are overhung forward so they are trying to extend the upper arms and compress the lowers.

You can do it with the axle drooped to take the load off the springs as well. My point was it is easier to remove and install one arm at a time. When you droop it, the axle gets pulled sideways so the bolt holes have to be misaligned to follow when the arm is put back in.

So, weight on the jeep, and jack up under the tie rod? The trackbar pulling the axle to the side makes sense why they might bind when drooped. Sometimes...I'm just a dummy.

 

[mrblaine]

So, weight on the jeep, and jack up under the tie rod? The trackbar pulling the axle to the side makes sense why they might bind when drooped. Sometimes...I'm just a dummy.

It is easy with two working on it. We zip the nuts off, grab the bolt head with some pliers to make sure we don't miss the neutral spot and start trying to turn the bolt as the pressure from the springs is removed by the floor jack. Once there, pop both the bolts out.