Lower "A" arms and stuff

[82LTDQS]

1982 LTD Country Squire / 302 carb. I want to freshen up the front end on the cheap and nice and slow. Im gona start with the lower control arms because my lower ball joints are bad. I dont have a hydraulic press so Im gonna pull them off. While im at it im gona change the bushings too. Here is my question. Am I able to purchas complete a arms with new bushings and ball joints instaled as a unit, so I can just throw them on the car???? If so, is it worth the price. Or should I take the arms to a shop and have the PRESS all that crap off then PRESS all the new part on. Sounds like to much pressing and stuff. also, do any of you guys recomend the poly stuff? thanks

[gadget73]

Never seen a source for pre-assembled arms.

I used poly in mine. The kits are cheaper than buying the parts, and you don't have to press the bushings out. Just heat the rubber till it pushes out. Ball joint itself isn't so bad. Usually you can borrow the ball joint press from someplace like Autozone. If you have an impact gun, they go together pretty easy. If not, you'll need a nice long wratchet and a break so your arms don't fall off.

[82LTDQS]

Ok

So the bushing dont come out as a unit like on most chevy's? only the inner tube and rubber get replaced, but the outter tube is a part od the A arm? also, If I rent a ball joint press, will it press tho old out and the new in? or is it for removal only? You mentioned a kit. Is that the complete control arem with bushings and ball joint all in one?

[1987cp]

I did my balljoints with a hammer and a big pipe union. And don't they recommend against using an impact wrench on most press/puller type tools?

[DuceAnAHalf]

you can buy lower a arms for the newer panthers that have the bushings pre-installed from the dealer. i called about arms for my 97 (basically the same as the box arms) but they wanted something like $280 each

[Lincolnmania]

I did my balljoints with a hammer and a big pipe union. And don't they recommend against using an impact wrench on most press/puller type tools?

who cares about reccomendations......my ball joint press is made in china and i use an impact gun with it all the time......no damages.....5 yrs old

poly bushings for the front upper and lower control arms are under 75 bucks a set......they dont come with sleeves, so you need to save your outer shells.....i dont reccomend rubber, the few cars i replaced the rubbers in a few yrs ago before i knew the poly bushings would fit are starting to go already....dryrot

[gadget73]

So the bushing dont come out as a unit like on most chevy's? only the inner tube and rubber get replaced, but the outter tube is a part od the A arm? also, If I rent a ball joint press, will it press tho old out and the new in? or is it for removal only? You mentioned a kit. Is that the complete control arem with bushings and ball joint all in one?

The factory stock bushings come out as one piece, the outer metal sleeve is not part of the A arm. It will press out if replacing with stock bushings. The poly bushings don't come with the outer sleeve, so you just leave the original one in place, burn out the guts, and slide the new pieces inside.

The bushing kit is just the set that does both uppers and both lowers. I think the application is 92-95 crown vic civilian. Its an Energy Suspension kit. It doesn't come with the ball joint or arm or any of that. You'd use your original arm, a new parts store ball joint, and those bushings to assemble a complete unit.

[turbo2256b]

Ford used to sell complete lower arms with ball joint and bushings. Not shure they have any on the books anymore for the boxes. I purchased the last set of PI lower arm asemblies from them I was lucky I guess. Unles you concider one side cost like 275.00 and the other side 370.00 with my Ford employe discount.