Thread: How-to change lower control arms

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  1. #1 How-to change lower control arms 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    Are your ball joints worn out or bushings shot? It's easier to change the whole lower control arm (lca) out then to change just the failed part and through rockauto they are only a little over $100 shipped for both sides. Here is my how-to on changing them.

    Tools you need:
    18mm wrench
    21mm wrench
    3/4" wrench
    T-55 torx bit
    13mm wrench and socket
    Hammer
    Pliers either needlenose or a pair of side snips
    Screwdriver
    Pickle fork
    Impact really speeds things up
    Possibly a sawzall



    1. Jack the vehicle up and remove the tire.

    2. Pop all the plastic clips off that hold the wires for the wheel speed sensor. Screwdriver works well for this.



    3.Take the bolt out on the rear of the lca. 18mm and 21mm wrench.



    4.Take the sway bar endlink off. 13mm wrench and socket. If yours are fairly old they will most likely snap so this is where the sawzall comes in handy.



    5.Take the front bolt out on the lca. T-55 torx and 21 mm. You can see the bushing is shot on this one.



    6. Remove the cotter pin on the ball joint and take off the castle nut on the ball joint. Pliers and 18mm. If the ball joint doesn't cooperate the sawzall will come in handy again.



    7. Use pickle fork and hammer it inbetween the ball joint and spindle. Sorry I didn't get a pic of this I was pretty greasy by this time.

    8. Put new lca in place and put the new nut that comes with it on the ball joint. Don't put the grease zerk in until the end just in case you have to jack it up to get stuff in place. Tighten the nut (3/4" on the new one) and install the new cotter pin.

    9. Put the rear bolt into place wiggling it around and using the screwdriver to line it up. 18mm and 21mm wrench

    10. Put front bolt in using the same technique. T-55 torx and 21mm

    11. Put sway bar end link back in. 13mm wrench and socket

    12. Put all the clips back in on the wheel speed sensor wire.

    13. Put the wheel back on and release the jack

    14. Enjoy the new found no clunking front end.
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
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  2. #2 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
    GXP Level Member txslow6's Avatar
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    Lol I was going to do a write up on how to do this when I did mine. Looks like I won't have to now. Nice write up.

    Anyone that hasn't done this, it's by far one of the easier things to do on this car.
    85 Corvette
    01 TA
    03 Z06
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  3. #3 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
    GTP Level Member FriboRage's Avatar
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    Is it the same for the 04 comp g? I think I remember reading somewhere on here they changed the control arms and other parts of the suspension for 04-05 and then went back to the old way for 06+
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G: Intake, F+R plogs + downpipe, 1.7 YT Rollers, Overkill, F-body front brakes, drilled/slotted r1 concept rotors.
    Sport Edition Kv5 18x8
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  4. #4 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    changing lca's is even easier when your sub frame is on Bills garage floor...

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  5. #5  
    GT Level Member iRideGTP's Avatar
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    great how-to! will definitely come in handy when i replace my lca
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  6. #6  
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    Just did it on my 04 comp g with no write up. Very easy


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  7. #7 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FriboRage View Post
    Is it the same for the 04 comp g? I think I remember reading somewhere on here they changed the control arms and other parts of the suspension for 04-05 and then went back to the old way for 06+
    I believe everything is the same except the sway bar end link but I'm not certain.
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
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  8. #8 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
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    On my 04 GT2 the sway bar is connected to the sway bar link, and neither are connected to the control arm.
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  9. #9 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
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    1 question? how do you know when you need them changed.
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  10. #10 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    if you jack up the car, take the wheel off. and see this like he posted in the pic. and have loud clunking when you go over bumps and turns. or have over 100,000 miles or more your due.


    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  11. #11 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
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    Quote Originally Posted by scottydoggs View Post
    if you jack up the car, take the wheel off. and see this like he posted in the pic. and have loud clunking when you go over bumps and turns. or have over 100,000 miles or more your due.
    Thanks ,im going to have to doit this weekend cause im getting a clunking noise when i hit a bump.Thanks again
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  12. #12 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    lca's are a boat load cheaper if you order them on line. i got mine for 42 a side. 98 shipped. from partsgeek. rockauto has real good prices too. i just went with the dorman arms, they are working just fine.

    parts stores wanted 70 a side, f them.....

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  13. #13 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
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    I buy most of the parts from rockauto,have not tried partsgeek yet.I am goint to compare prices and see who gives out the best deals.thanks again
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  14. #14 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
    GT Level Member ill12will8's Avatar
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    i cant get this thing lined up for the life of me
    1997 Artic White GTP: Stock (I call her "Brooke")
    2000 Silvermist GTP: ZZP DP, CAI w/ 9" open cone, Dorman front sway bar, PEMs, AL605 -DEAD & GONE
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  15. #15 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    Shove a screwdriver into where the bolt goes and wiggle it around until it lines up.
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
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  16. #16  
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    What helped me was putting a block under my rotor and jacking it up...made it much easier.

    Spectre Open cone+SD hood+Limo rear, 20% front+tinted tails+pioneer 6x9's+pioneer deck= My toy
    Tranny build this winter, then VS cam and headers the next, hopefully sooner...
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  17. #17 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
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    i saw the torque specs on one other post but now i cant find it...do you know what they are?
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  18. #18 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    the spec is tight!

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  19. #19  
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    ^x2 lol

    Spectre Open cone+SD hood+Limo rear, 20% front+tinted tails+pioneer 6x9's+pioneer deck= My toy
    Tranny build this winter, then VS cam and headers the next, hopefully sooner...
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  20. #20 Re: How-to change lower control arms 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    I just crank them down really tight.
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
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