I am planning on changing the lower control arm on my 2001 F 150 2wd within the next week or so. IS it a straight forward job or is there certain things I should watch out for, how difficult of a job is it

 

It's time consuming. Don't forget to take your shock off either If you can... use strut compressors or spring compressors to hold tension on the coil b4 you take it out. you will need to remove the swaybar links. Don't do what I did and remove the lower balljoint b4 removing the arm... that was dumb and a waste of time. If i remember right, you will need a deepwell socket to get the 2 inside frame bolts out. Once you put the spring compressor on, put a jack under the arm and put tension on the arm. remove the two frame bolts. IT WILL SWING DOWN VIGOROUSLY!!!! Be sure to be out of the way. Lower the jack and the spring is compressed, ready to reinstall. obviously take off ur spindle, shock, and related items. Hope this helps. Sorry for the jumbledness

 

thanks for the info, will I have to adjust the ride height as I tighten up the frame bolts, should I measure before raising the truck off the ground

 

Goodness no. Then again, I'm assuming you're replacing it with a OEM/Adance/Original part? Not some funky design? If it's normal, then no, no ride height adjustment will be necessary.

 

Yes, I'm replacing with an oem part so I all have to do is just put all back together and tighten to factory specs?

 

I believe so. That's all I did to mine basically While ur at it, why not change the upper control arm and put in a camber/caster kit. Just a thought. On the sway bar link, you will have to remove it from both lower control arms now that I think about it. Other than that, you should be good to go. I did mine several months ago so I'm racking my brain trying to think if there's anything else. Not right now, but if I do, I'll post back here.

 

got the parts today will start replacing control arms Friday, weather is supposed to warm up enough