Left & Right Upper Control Arms are Different???
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Rapid City SD
Left & Right Upper Control Arms are Different???
I have a 1996 AWD 5.0 Explorer and I recently took it in for a front ent alignment... (Infact it's still at the shop). As they started to align it they pointed out to me that the Right Upper Control Arm is different then the Left. The Right one has what appears to be another method to adjust camber(?) bolted on about halfway point and the left is one solid piece with two Cam style adjusters at the mounting points. The shop is saying something has been changed, and they believe the right one is correct... any input would be greatly apprecieated!
Thanks & God Bless,
David
Thanks & God Bless,
David
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
My 99 4.0 SOHC Explorer also has different LH and RH upper control arms. According to the Haynes manual this is correct. The RH adjusment is to get coarse adjustment right between left and right before final adjustment with the cam adjusters at the mounting points.
Good luck
Good luck
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by marragtop
I just had new upper/lower ball joints and control arms replaced on my '95' The control arms are definitely different. I'd consider finding another front end shop.
Mike
Mike
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
I recently replaced the two upper and two lower ball joints on my 2000 Mountaineer, V8. Of course to replace the upper ball joints you need to replace the upper control arms. My truck had the two different types of control arms like yours; single piece on the left and two piece on the right. The replacement control arms, however, are the same for both sides-single piece like the original one on the left. It took some convincing by the parts guy and the Ford mechanic that this was correct before I purchased them, but I did. The control arms have been in the truck for about 4K miles with no problems. If you ordered left and right upper control arms from Ford I think you would receive two SINGLE piece control arms, almost identical except for slightly different geomtry between the left and right arms. Your shop is correct, the control arms are the same.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 605
Likes: 1
If you look at them closely they are slightly different(upper drivers side compared to upper passenger side). The new upper control arm for the pass side replaces the two piece system. The single piece on the pass side is different from the drivers side control arm and has a different part number. I don't know if they are interchangeable, but they are very similar.
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Just replaced all four on mine today. Only took about about 3 hours. That right side upper is different and it's super easy to change.
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
The left side upper control arm is a single piece. The right side upper control arm is a dual-piece.. the inner half.. and the outer half (which bolts onto the inner half).
They did this so they could quickly adjust the caster on the right side at the factory, to match what the left side is at.
Ford has since changed the design of the replacement part to a one-piece control arm on the right side, although some aftermarket companies still produce the two pieces.
They did this so they could quickly adjust the caster on the right side at the factory, to match what the left side is at.
Ford has since changed the design of the replacement part to a one-piece control arm on the right side, although some aftermarket companies still produce the two pieces.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
So what Advance was showing me was ok to use? I just thought they didn't have the correct parts. Could have saved a few bucks, but it woulda taken loner to do.
Does the OE design make it easier on the guy doing the alignment?
Does the OE design make it easier on the guy doing the alignment?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
aerocolorado
Brakes, Steering, Suspension, Tires, & Wheels
5
Aug 25, 2004 04:52 PM
