Front Lower Control Arm Removal?

[thefro526]

Does anyone have any guidelines or tips for removing and installing a Front lower control Arm? I'm gonna take one out of a junker tomorrow of Friday and install it in my car and I was wondering if anyone knows the tools needed and how hard it is to do.

To my understanding there's only 4 bolts I have to undo:

The Bolt to the front cross member/chassis (size?)The Two Tension rod bolts (17mm?)The Sway Bar end link (size?)

After that I think I just have to remove the spindle from the ball joint:

This is the part that I'm least confident about. I think I need some special tool to force the ball join out and I think it has some funny looking nut on top but I'm not sure. Thanks a lot.

I'll try to make a write up when I'm done, because I don't think there's one already.

[rico05]

If you are reusing the ball joint, just remove the cotter pin and castle nut (the "funny looking nut") and hit downward on the threads with a 5lb or greater hammer to knock the ball joint free of the spindle. If you want to resue the ball joint, go to the parts store and rent a front end service kit. It will have a ball joint separator will help with the process.

Have fun. When I installed a set of new ball joints and Energy Suspension LCA bushings, it took me over 8 hours. Ugh...

[vancouverbc]

there is a tutorial on this. look up suspension in tutorial link in my signature

[thefro526]

Thanks a lot I searched and couldn't find a thing. NICO ftw!