I have a 2003 Expedition 4x4 Eddie Bauer with the 5.4L engine. I need to replace my front control arm but I am going to redo the lower ball joints and some other parts while I have it apart.

I have used Moog in the past and I have lost my excitement with their product but I wanted to know what most on the site are using for replacements.

I can't find a control arm from XRF nor can I really find any replacement parts from Raybestos. Is Moog and OEM my best choices?

Tim M

 

I used Moogs when replacing my tie rod ends, I didn't like the OEM as they didn't have any grease nipple, so I opted for Moogs. They gave the impression of having a good build quality, but I guess time will tell if they will last. I grease them every time I do an oil change.

 

From the research it looks like I will be going with Moog. Did you go with the
CK or RK series from moog?

 

This is next on my list for our 03 so I'm subscribing to see what other's comments and recommendations are.

 

I don't think they have those series for the tie rod ends, but generally, if one is cheaper than the other, the more expensive one is the better one..

 

So there aren't too many good options for the upper control arms.

Moog part numbers
lower ball joint - K500060 - Rock Auto has them for $11.60 right now everywhere else its about $37

Moog Control arm for standard suspension
left - RK80713 - low end
- CK80713 performance -
right - RK80712 - low end
- CK80712 -performance

Rock auto carries the lower end model for both left and right but they only carry the right side in the performance

Raybestos
Right - 502-1149
Left - 502-1148
I could only find one place that sold only one side.

Motocraft
I found a part number for the right side upper control arm - W0133-1898474. I am going to call my local ford dealer to check on the part number but their price is going to be pretty high.

I am not a fan of dorman products nor do I know anything about mevotech or utlra-power so I will stay away from those.

RockAuto has the following part numbers in the performance product for Moog.
CK80712
CK80715 - this is for the vehicles with auto suspension but maybe it will still work for mine that is standard.

Summit Racing has both the performance control arms left/right but they are a bit more expensive than RockAuto.

I contacted XRF and they were going to get back to me with part numbers for the control arm.

Price -
low end control arms R-models from Moog
$126.00 for both
Performance C-model from Moog
$334.00

Is the performance model worth the extra $$$$ is the question I keep asking myself. I just don't want to have to replace these again in a few years and when you buy the lower models you risk having them go out quickly.

Tim M

 

I went with motorcraft parts purchased through amazon.

Got both upper control arms, both inner and both outter tie rod ends for $400 shipped.

For lowers I got moog problem solvers.

Only bad part about the motorcraft is they do not come with new nuts, so you have to reuse your old ones or track down the part number for the nuts and order them at the same time.

The parts on amazon were about 33% cheaper than the dealer or fordparts.com

Of course, I was in a pickle too with the uppers. According to mu build date, the ONLY ones I could find were OEM. I don't think anyone else is making them for my truck.

 

I gave my vin number to the Ford parts department and here are the part numbers and price for the motorcraft OEM control arms.

lh upper 2l1z-3085-aa list $329.78 sell $237.44
rh upper 2l1z-3084-aa list $384.82 sell $277.07



Tim M

 

Well at the end of the day I finally purchased a set of the upper control arms. I ended up getting the economy model of the Moog control arms as those ended up being the most straight forward choice.

MOOG RK80713
MOOG RK80712

Around $61 each. As another stated, time will tell how well they hold up.

Tim M

 

Replaced the lower ball joints and the upper control arm. At first I though the job was going to be challenging but at the end of the day it was pretty easy to do. The passenger side control arm was definitely shot and the rubber boots on the ball joints for both control arms were torn apart.

After all the work I did. I decided to now replace the inner and outer tie rod ends. This work will be done this coming weekend. I figured with all the new parts I should replace those also.

All in all I will have replaced the following.
- all four struts
- upper control arms
- lower ball joints
- inner and outer tie rod ends.

It is already a much better and smoother ride than before.

Tim M

 

Did the lower ball joints have to be pressed in/out of the control arms? I ordered the Moogs from Rockauto since they're $11 each. Still have to purchase the upper control arms and make time for the work.

 

Yes I had to press them out and I did it while the control arm was still on the vehicle.
I have a press tool with a bunch of different sleeves but I had to get creative when I pressed the ball joint back into the lower control arm. The tool doesn't open enough with the set of sleeves I had so I had to get the ball joint pressed in just a bit with a piece of metal covering the upper hole. Once it was partially pressed in, I could use one of the other sleeves to finish it up.

Tim M