2003 Expedition Upper Control Arm Replacement
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2003 Expedition Upper Control Arm Replacement
First of all I want to thank all of you, I've learned a lot from the forums. I have a 2003 Expedition, 2WD, 4.6, EB.
I need to replace my upper control arms, the rubber bushings on the ball joints have seen better days, so I want replace before I start having problems. Let me say I am fairly handy and have the tools needed to do the job. Maybe. I was checking things over today, I like to make sure I have a plan before jumping in.
I am concerned about the upper left bolt removal. The bolts have to come out on the inside, going toward the coil spring, which the strut goes through. I think the bolt on the right side (firewall side) will come out, however the one on the left looks like it will/may hit the coil.
Does anyone know if this will be a problem? If so, how do you get these bolts out?
I need to replace my upper control arms, the rubber bushings on the ball joints have seen better days, so I want replace before I start having problems. Let me say I am fairly handy and have the tools needed to do the job. Maybe. I was checking things over today, I like to make sure I have a plan before jumping in.
I am concerned about the upper left bolt removal. The bolts have to come out on the inside, going toward the coil spring, which the strut goes through. I think the bolt on the right side (firewall side) will come out, however the one on the left looks like it will/may hit the coil.
Does anyone know if this will be a problem? If so, how do you get these bolts out?
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alloro, thank you for your reply. Removing the spring and shock are probably outside my "comfort zone". Even if I was successful in removing I would have no ideal how to get the shock torqued to 295 ft lbs.
Fleet Owner
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From: 0,0,1
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24,316
Likes: 5,127
From: 0,0,1
No it is not. You have to use a spring compressor to what else...compress the spring. See the 2 attached PDFs for the spring, shock, and upper arm procedures.
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Ah, the ole spring compressor doohickey, holy cow. The amount of tools required to do anything these days, just boggles my mind.
I can't thank you enough for spending your time helping out a 'less-than shade tree mechanic."
I love these instructions, where can I get a copy?
I can't thank you enough for spending your time helping out a 'less-than shade tree mechanic."
I love these instructions, where can I get a copy?
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: 0,0,1
If you're using internet explorer simply right click each of them and from the pop up menu select "Save target as...". You'll get a folder window asking where you want to save it to on your computer. The default save name will be "attachment.pdf" so be sure to name each of them something different or the 2nd one will overwrite the first.
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Fleet Owner
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Only $9.95 for the entire workshop manual on DVD.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/351319492127?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/351319492127?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
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From: Westland
Sorry to revive an old thread but I have some questions and this seems to be the closest thread to what I'm working on. I have an 03 as well with 4 wheel drive. I just discovered this morning my passenger side CV shaft needs to be replaced. Looks fairly straight forward but I'm debating on changing the Control arm while I'm there. My issue is I'd rather not remove the spring, My truck has 270K I bought it a year ago with 230K so I don't have a lot of history on it. I'm not sure if i can get it out with out breaking something else. Is there another way of getting them out or removing and replacing them. I've seen some links about cutting it off and putting the bolt through the opposite way but that seems to be only on the rear. Or should I just do the CV shaft and wait until i have the funds for springs as well in a month or so.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,812
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From: Thousand Oaks, CA
A lot of this thread has me scratching my head.
I just changed all 4 coil spring/shock assemblies on our 2003 because they had 170k and I figured the shocks were all bad.
It seemed easier to change them as assemblies and not have to deal with a spring compressor.
The OP just wants to change the upper control arms which I also want to do now.
Looking back at it I should have done the upper control arms when I did the coils/shocks.
But, the front coil/shocks come out rather easily - block up frame, remove wheel, 3 nuts on top of assembly, shock bolt on bottom, disconnect the anti-roll bar and tie rod end and the assembly comes right out.
I didn't have to compress the spring for removal because the shock extends only so far.
Removing the coil/shock will allow easier access to the upper control arm bolts.
I just changed all 4 coil spring/shock assemblies on our 2003 because they had 170k and I figured the shocks were all bad.
It seemed easier to change them as assemblies and not have to deal with a spring compressor.
The OP just wants to change the upper control arms which I also want to do now.
Looking back at it I should have done the upper control arms when I did the coils/shocks.
But, the front coil/shocks come out rather easily - block up frame, remove wheel, 3 nuts on top of assembly, shock bolt on bottom, disconnect the anti-roll bar and tie rod end and the assembly comes right out.
I didn't have to compress the spring for removal because the shock extends only so far.
Removing the coil/shock will allow easier access to the upper control arm bolts.
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Western AR
I installed upper control arms on my '04 Expy with the coil spring installed. No access issues on the bolts. You cannot, however, take the coil spring out very easily with the upper control arm still on there.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 88
From: Thousand Oaks, CA
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