failed inspection because of "lower control arm clip broken"

[peanuttbutterman]

i failed my inspection because of a lower control arm pin that was broken. i jacked her up and removed the tire, got under her and couldnt find anything wrong with the lower control arm. i replaced the upper control arm and found out that the thing that holds the sway bar to the control arm was snapped. is this what they are talking about or is it the ball joint pin? planning on working on her again tomorrow so any help would be great.

 

[mounty71]

That could be it. Those are the sway bar links, and i've heard of them breaking before. Other than that, i'm not sure what a control arm "clip" or "pin" is.

 

[G-96XLT]

The pin is this steel rod which connects the lower swingarm (i think that is the name) to the control arm or something. It is essentially a threaded rod with nuts on the end and a plastic sleeve over it, although by this time it will look like one piece as the plastic and metal bond. I couldn't find one in Canada so I had to take one off a scrap car. you only have to remove one bolt and it should slide right out. Getting a used one is tough as they are all rusted and broken, but you might be able to find a new at the dealer or one in good shape from the wreckers.

 

[peanuttbutterman]

for some reason i have on in my "parts closet" dont remember buying. hmm? i didnt want them to fail me again if that wasnt it. thanks for the quick response

 

[peanuttbutterman]

ok so after a few hours of frustration i finally decide to take the following steps to remove the sway bar link.

1 lift the truck and put on blocks so you dont kill yourself while under it
2 take a hack saw or sawz all if your brave enough (awfully close to boots and hub assembly wires and the tire)
3 after cutting link in half take a phillips head and place the end on the bolt and tap till the bolt slides out under the lower control arm
4 put the new link and bushings in all but the bottom bushing
5 jack the control arm until you can get the threaded end in the hole on the lower control arm
6 put last bushing on followed by the nut and tighten using a deep set socket


i just thought explorers leaned like mine did before installing the link. feels alot better driving without the lean

thanks again