Another Lower Control Arm Bushing Thread

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LLCoolLS

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I swear I did a search, but couldn't find the answers I need. Here's the long story.

02 LS Sport V8

My front lower control arm bushing is destroyed. It's the larger of the two busings - the front bushing. I don't want to drop $500 on a lower control arm, so I ordered a bushing from here:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/150874830435...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_3118wt_1159

I assume LSE is sport so it should be the right fit right? The listing states that it should fit. I measured the outer diameter of the new bushing I rec'd and it is 2 3/4". I haven't tried pressing it yet because I couldn't get the bolt out of the old one...but this is where my real problem stems.

I realized that the camber is adjusted by these points on the arm. My subframe bolt locations have slotted holes where the arm bolts will slide freely in and out. No grease fitting that I could find on my model.

Now, looking at the replacement bushing, it's off-centric. But the inner collar on my old bushing spins freely, fused to the bolt, so I have no way of know which position to press the new bushing in. (The rubber really is destroyed in the old one)

I tried buttoning it all back since all the local parts depots are closed today. First try and I couldn't get the car to drive straight, then noticed that my front wheels were cock-eyed. I loosened it all up and slid the arm around in the slots to try to straighten the wheel again (checked with a yard stick against the rotor) and the alignment is reasonable, but still off.

Does anyone have any idea in what position I should be pressing the new bushing in when I get back to it? I know I'll need to bring it in for alignment after the replacement, but I don't want to F it up so bad that it can't be aligned.

Thanks!

IMG_20130218_160756[1].jpg


IMG_20130217_144856[1].jpg
 
The LCAs are the same for sport and non sport - the change to 16MM was a date for all cars. (That's my current assumption, as I have sport suspension in an early '02 with 14MM LCAs!)

Send me a PM to remind me to take a picture tonight. I just did full front suspension replacement and still have the old LCAs.
FWIW, the Moog LCAs are much less than that, but not as cheap as bushings. Wish I had found bushings at the time. :(
 
OK, here's a couple of pictures. I propped up the arms so it's just as though you're looking at them from the front of the car - right arm on the left side, vice versa.

20130219_195946.jpg


20130219_200022.jpg


It's hard to tell, but the "tall" and "narrow" void is outboard, and the "short" and "wide" void is inboard. Looks like the two small holes are the same as in yours. So the holes go inboard. No obvious indication of front vs back that I can tell.
 
That's 110% helpful! Exactly what I needed to see. Thanks for the pics oddball. Now I know what orientation to press the bushing.
 
Wow... wish I wouldve seen this before I bought my new Motorcraft arms a few weeks ago :/ looks like they want 110/set with free shipping in the US too... oh well. Lesson learned
 
That is only the front bushing. Maybe the rear bushing is a more standard part?
The Moog arms are about $200/ea.
 
Hey Oddball, here's another question. When you removed the subframe bolt from the front bushing, was it a cam bolt?

I removed the rear bushing bolt and it's just a regular bolt, no cam. I was about to cut the front bolt, but I went to Ford for a replacement first and they are saying it's a cam and will cost $83 special order. And Ford's parts list shows both bolts carry the same part number.

If it is a cam bolt, maybe I just needed to turn it a little before backing it out. I don't know if the previous owner just put a regular bolt and I should have cams in both the front and rear, or if Ford's parts list is incorrect. If it's incorrect, I'll just pick up a bolt from Brafasco. (14mm x 2.0, 5 inches long, 10.9 hardness).
 
All of mine were regular bolts. There is no keying in the bushing. I expect your car just has some funny mix of parts from prior repairs.

The Moog camber/caster kit comes with cam bolts and keyed disks that fit in those bumps next to the bolt head and the nut.

If I was you, I'd just get a class 10.9 bolt and a new nylon lock nut (plus washers as appropriate). The Moog kit makes like a little easier on the alignment dude.
 
2000sport said:
Wow... wish I wouldve seen this before I bought my new Motorcraft arms a few weeks ago :/ looks like they want 110/set with free shipping in the US too... oh well. Lesson learned
Click to expand...

Where did you purchase your motorcraft arms?
 
oddball said:
All of mine were regular bolts. There is no keying in the bushing. I expect your car just has some funny mix of parts from prior repairs.

The Moog camber/caster kit comes with cam bolts and keyed disks that fit in those bumps next to the bolt head and the nut.

If I was you, I'd just get a class 10.9 bolt and a new nylon lock nut (plus washers as appropriate). The Moog kit makes like a little easier on the alignment dude.
Click to expand...

Awesome! You are a wealth of knowledge. There should be a Super-Thanks button.
 
I kn ow this is a little older thread, but I need to do my driver side now, and I wanted to know how this ebay bushing worked out for you.
 
It actually worked out quite well. I've been driving it daily since and it's back to that solid feel despite my floppy tires that I'm about to replace.

I'm really not sure if there is any difference from the 04-06 bushings, but have a look at this one:

http://r.ebay.com/UBafpr
 
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