UCA Removal
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2003
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UCA Removal
Any thoughts before I remove my upper control arms? Tips on removing them from the upper ball joint? It'll be my first on an Astar, I don't know if they tend to be tricky. '89. Thanks!
JP
JP
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,016
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From: SoCal
The rivets that hold the upper ball joint to the control arm need to have their heads ground off, then drill a hole through each rivet with a bit that comes as close to the diameter of the body as possible. And try not to cut the control arm in the process. This makes it easier to knock the rivets out. The replacement ball joint should come with bolts to hold it to the arm.
Most manuals advise you to scratch out the outlines of the two brackets that the control arm pivot mount in onto the plate that's bolted to the frame, so you can put them back to the same positions when installing. This facilitates setting the alignment later. That may be a good idea, if you also press the new control arm bushings into the exact same depth as the originals (if you're replacing them).
Most manuals advise you to scratch out the outlines of the two brackets that the control arm pivot mount in onto the plate that's bolted to the frame, so you can put them back to the same positions when installing. This facilitates setting the alignment later. That may be a good idea, if you also press the new control arm bushings into the exact same depth as the originals (if you're replacing them).
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2001
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Re:UCA outline. Clean area around UCA and use (white,yellow,etc) model airplane paint to mark the outline between UCA and frame member. Lots easier to see and line up during replacement. UCA will be moved around a considerable amount and scratch marks tend to get covered up.
Those long bolts will come out, it just takes some jockeying around to find the correct angle. Replace in same order.
Expect to do a lot of pounding to get those OEM rivets out even after grinding/drilling. Drilling them out on a large drill press is the easiest method.
Those long bolts will come out, it just takes some jockeying around to find the correct angle. Replace in same order.
Expect to do a lot of pounding to get those OEM rivets out even after grinding/drilling. Drilling them out on a large drill press is the easiest method.
