radius arms are also called sway bars right????

[hockey4704]

because im looking up radius arm bushing on the internet and i just find stuff on sway bars, or do you call them something else? thanks

 

[Alec]

no, totally different.

 

[hockey4704]

so is that just the slang word or are they really called that?

?

 

[Texplorer]

Radius arm is their real name.

 

[hockey4704]

thank you

 

[NH25]

Here is a link to NAPA's web page for radius arm bushings for an Explorer.

http://www.napaonline.com/cgi-bin/n...ng+-+Front+Susp&org_string=radius+arm+bushing

 

[NH25]

And here is Autozone's web page as well.

http://www5.autozone.com/servlet/Ui...LAR+PARTS+LOOK+UP|~RADIUS+CONTROL+ARM+BUSHING

 

[hockey4704]

oh i was missing the "control" part, now i know. thanks alot

 

[youmansg]

Not too bad

Those prices are not to bad, Does anyone know if the proceedure in the Haynes manual is accurate and easy to follow for replacing these. I've read it and it seems vague to me! I'm doin gmine this weekend.

 

[Bashman]

The Haynes procedure is one way to do them although you usually can't "push" the radius arm forward, most times it requires using a come-along on the axle. The other method is to grind the rivets off the crossmember then replacing them with grade 8 hardware. There are right ups on the sight on both methods.

 

[NH25]

BTW neither method is either easier or better than the other. Its a toss up! I have done it both ways and I prefer to just drop the entire front axle assembly then replace all the bushings and put it back in as one peice. No cutting, no drilling, just lots of wrenching!

 

[DeRocha]

Originally posted by NH25
BTW neither method is either easier or better than the other. Its a toss up! I have done it both ways and I prefer to just drop the entire front axle assembly then replace all the bushings and put it back in as one peice. No cutting, no drilling, just lots of wrenching!

I agree with Mike. I found it more a PITA trying to pull the whole axle assembly forward enough to slip the RA out of the cross member. I would also recommend replacing the front sway bar bushings while your @ it.(You'll have 1/2 it off anyway). If you're really into it you can tackle the axle pivot bushings...