Knuckle and Front Control Arm Removal w/Pictures

[chucklesas]

As requested, my Step by Step Front Control Arm Removal W/PICTURES:

Step 1: Loosen Lug Nuts (21mm Socket) [edit]


Step 2: Jack Up Car and Place on Stands
I'm lazy so I do a whole side at one time

Step 3: Remove Wheels

Step 4: Loosen Hub Nut (1 3/4" Socket)
My brother wasn't around to push the brake for me, so I went with the Screw Driver Method to hold the hub still.


Step 5: Remove Calipers, Brakes and Brackets (17mm Socket)


[ 04-16-2004, 08:14 PM: Message edited by: Charles ]

 

[chucklesas]

Step 6: Using special tool, and with crown nut loosened, press tierod out of knuckle.


Step 7: Unbolt Knuckle From Shock (14mm Socket and Wrench)

Then shake it back and forth until released from shock bracket.

Step 8: Remove ABS Sensor CRAP (12mm Socket)


Step 9: Unbolt ball-joint from knuckle and use SPECIAL TOOL again to press ball-joint off knuckle. (17mm Socket)

Note: Pickle Fork is BAD... Eats Rubber Boots

 

[chucklesas]

Step 10: Remove Sway Bar Link (14mm Socket and Wrench)


now time to play under the car
Step 11: Remove Chassis Bracket for Front Control Arm Rear Bushing (17mm and 14mm Socket)


Step 12: Push A-Arm Down and Unbolt Front Bushing (17mm Socket and Wrench)

 

[chucklesas]

Step 13: Pull Off Control Arm and Show it Who's Boss...

An addition to the Junk Pile

Step 14: Cheat, and buy newer control arms to put back in

 

Perhaps I missed something...but why did you remove the knuckle, brake caliper, brake rotor, etc. if all you wanted was to remove the front control arm?

 

Probably for ease of access since he's not doing it on a lift.

BTW, my car uses a 21mm socket...

Mark

 

quote:Originally posted by Minjin:
Probably for ease of access since he's not doing it on a lift.I've done it on my garage floor with jackstands and a 3.5T jack without removing anything but the control arm itself--it's really not that hard. I can only assume that the rest of the stuff needed to be replaced/removed for some reason?

 

He wanted to paint the calipers also. That's why he removed everything.

 

[chucklesas]

Made for quick access, plus it doesn't take much to remove the knuckles, only 2 more bolts and yeah, I wanted to do something to the brakes since I'm putting on some new kicks

 

[chucklesas]

Okay, let's just pretend I meant to do this.
Steps 4-9 are knuckle removal, and the rest is for A-arm removal...

 

[steve]

My "special tools" was a BFH, but it wasn't able to get the tierod detached from the spindle. I just removed the outer tie rod end from the inner, and pulled the whole thing off.

Oh and my tip of the day, is unbolt the sway bar link before trying to press out the control arm from the knuckle and fighting with it for an hour.

 

[steve]

Did your rotor come off the hub easily? Mine is being a royal pain as well.

 

[Telecaster]

I think this should be a "sticky"

 

[chucklesas]

Yeah, my rotor came of really easy, I put them on just last year. The key to making everything come apart easily is to take things apart frequently

 

[Romanova]

quote:Originally posted by stevevr4:
Did your rotor come off the hub easily? Mine is being a royal pain as well. I hear you brother. Follow the VFAQ for stuck rotor removal. I beat the f*** out of mine with a hammer and it wouldn't budge. Grab a nut and a bolt, take about five minutes and it popped right off.

 

[steve]

quote:Originally posted by Romanova:
quote:Originally posted by stevevr4:
Did your rotor come off the hub easily? Mine is being a royal pain as well. I hear you brother. Follow the VFAQ for stuck rotor removal. I beat the f*** out of mine with a hammer and it wouldn't budge. Grab a nut and a bolt, take about five minutes and it popped right off.

I dermeled off 3 lug studs, that did it.

 

quote:Originally posted by Charles:
My brother wasn't around to push the brake for me, so I went with the Screw Driver Method to hold the hub still.If you pop off the center cap you can tighten or loosen the hub nut without a second person Also I may be being hard on you but why was this even posted

that is a very straight forward removal if you ask me.

 

Remember how many people have never done *anything* when they start off with these cars. Lots of stuff that's easy now was hard for me 2 years ago

 

[chucklesas]

I asked if anyone wanted me to do the post, there were a bunch of yeseseses, so I did it... I'm bored now...

 

[chucklesas]

Oh yeah, and I put in Front Control Arm energy suspension bushings and Front Control Arm Noltec chassis bushings. Everyone was giving tips on how to remove the sleeves... Why did you remove the sleeves? Mine went right in (perfect fit) with the sleeves still intact. I did end up using a propane torch and hammer to melt and beat the old bushings out though.