Replacing Control Arms!!!!
 

Ok, so I have a sucky situation right now! My car needs new Tie-Rod Ends AND control arms!!! Almost all the bushings on the control arms are cracked and worn. I am probably going to be getting the kit from ECS Tuning that has everything I need. Now my question is, how hard is it to replace that stuff yourself? And what special tools will I need? I do NOT want to have to spend another $400 for labor (yes I called around my town to different shops.) I have found the DIY that explains it and I m pretty sure I would be able to do it, but I am just wondering how hard it really is. Thanks!

Josh

RE: Replacing Control Arms!!!!
 

Its not hard, just time consuming and you gotta have the tools. Im pretty sure www.getcoolparts.com has better prices for the control arms/tie rods. Of course you canget them REAL cheap on Ebay, but the brands they have are very unknown as is thequality.
I stand corrected- ECS has them for $10 less for the Meyle brand compared to getcoolparts. Free shipping too! Thats an ECS rarity!!!

RE: Replacing Control Arms!!!!
 

Avoid Meyle... I've heard too many bad things lately. One company (can't remember who) sells MOOG control arms... They were much more money (700?) but moog stuff has a lifetime warranty... so I'd absolutely go with them, if I could do it again. (I bought a Febi Bilsten kit months ago, and just installed it last week).

The install was a PITA... Uppers can be hell because of the devil bolt (pinch bolt), and the lowers are hell because of the inside bolts... You'll need two 18mm wrenches (ratchet won't fit), and a 16mm wrench and a 16mm socket for the c-links (or two 16mm wrenches).

It wasn't THAT bad... but it WAS a pain in the ass for sure. The first side I did one day... the other side I did the next day, in about half the time I think. You also have to loosen one big bolt that goes to the subframe, kind of pry the subframe down with a prybar, in order to get the bolts out of the lower rear control arms (on both sides). I also had to free some metal lines (fuel/brake?) from their clips to move them out of the way... because the bolt was hitting them as I tried to remove it.

It's doable for sure... but I'd have beer next time. I was cursing a lot, under there...

RE: Replacing Control Arms!!!!
 

Interesting... One says easy the other says PITA. Lets get a third opinion. LOL

Josh

RE: Replacing Control Arms!!!!
 

Ive heard nothing but good things about Meyle, and their products just seem to be so beefy. I have heard the pinch bolt can be a PITA, but other than that, its just down to having a good tool collection and time. I dont have personal experience with them, so Im sure headshok's story is more credible, but for me,there is a difference between "hard" and "PITA."

I dont think I ever said "easy" though.

Hows this:
Its not hard, its just a PITA.

RE: Replacing Control Arms!!!!
 

Yeah, it is certainly not hard, as in complicated... Those 6 bolts though, (the 2 pinch bolts [devil bolts] and the 4 inside bolts on the 4 lower control arms will be a bastard, though. The lowers fought me the whole bloody way, until the nut fell off. I was sweating like a mofo, my arms were aching... it was good times.

And I was hearing about Meyle kits needing replacement after a little more than a year. I actually sold my Meyle kit before installing it, and went with the Febi kit instead.

RE: Replacing Control Arms!!!!
 

Everything is easy with a big enough air hammer;)

RE: Replacing Control Arms!!!!
 

I havent heard that, got a link??

RE: Replacing Control Arms!!!!
 

Yeah I would like to see that also. If thats the case I don't want to get those.

Josh

RE: Replacing Control Arms!!!!
 

whats the big deal here a simple job,
remove the bolt first then use a splitter
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DG