Stranded - Upper ball joint from hell

[halo15]

I'm stuck (literally) and need advise. Ordered the Moog upper control arm with attached ball joint as well as lower ball joint for my 99 explorer. Spent 3 hours getting the drivers side upper control arm out and I cant get the new one in. Those bolts to re-attach the control arm will not line up no matter what I do. Everything from gas to brake lines are all in the way and the bolts wont go in. Any help appeciated....

Dave

 

[ncc]

Hi Dave,

Those control arm bolts can be a real pain in the neck. But they are do-able. The trick is to push the control arm ends as far back as they will go in the brackets and then wiggle the bolts in. Hopefully you haven't attached the ball joint to the steering knuckle yet? If you have, try pulling it back out so you have more wiggle room.

The steel lines that are in the way can be gently moved around as much as about 3/4" as long as you're careful, so you should be able to do it. Also, using a flathead screwdriver to manipulate the end around in the bracket while you push the bolt in helps as well.

Take a deep breath, give it another go and let us know how you're making out!

Jeremy
'97 Eddie Bauer 4.0L SOHC

 

[Skibug]

Yep, I screamed at those bolts when I did the job. But is was not until I finally calmed down and manuevered the lines out of the way that the bolts finally went in. I had to use a flat head screw driver to push the lines out of the way. That was such a relief when the bolt slid into place. Have to hold your tounge just right.

 

[Homerexplorer]

Major PITA. I removed the fuel line brackets (3 I think) and needed to use a mirror to lines things up.

 

[halo15]

Thanks

Just wanted to say thanks for the advise. I had to walk away from that ball joint and calm down. After moving the arm as far back it would go, the bolts eventually made their way home. Now I know why the stealer wanted over $1000 for parts and labor.

After everything went in, I went for a test drive and noticed that the steering wheel was slightly off. To keep the car straight I had to turn it just slightly to the left. Is this an alignment issue or did I do something that's gonna make me have to go back in.


Thanks again

Dave

 

[ncc]

Did you separate the tie-rod ends from the knuckle while doing this project? If you did, you may have rotated one of them and thrown your steering off.

If not, it could just be an alignment issue. Since you need to have an alignment done anyway, you're better off just having a shop look at it and correct it for you. They probably won't even charge extra; I know my guy usually doesn't.

Jeremy
'97 Eddie Bauer 4.0L SOHC

 

[gijoecam]

Anytime you replace a suspension or steering component, you should have it realigned. Modern-day alignments are measured in hundredths of a degree of angle.... on a 33" tire, .10 degrees works out to roughly 3/64" difference between the front edge and rear edge of the tire. (did a rough trig calculation last week) My tape measure is a lot less accurate than that.

Replacing the upper control arm can affect caster, camber, and toe simultaneously.

-Joe