1.Fitting the Following vehicle:
| YEAR RANGE | MAKE | MODEL | SPECIFIC DETAILS |
| 1998-2011 | FORD | RANGER | 2WD - 1 Piece Design with Coil Spring Suspension |
| 2001-2010 | MAZDA | B2300 | 1 Piece Design with Coil Spring Suspension |
| 1998-2004 | MAZDA | B2500 | 1 Piece Design with Coil Spring Suspension |
| 1998-2010 | MAZDA | B3000 | 1 Piece Design with Coil Spring Suspension |
| 1998-2010 | MAZDA | B4000 | 1 Piece Design with Coil Spring Suspension |
| 1997-2001 | MERCURY | MOUNTAINEER | 1 Piece Design with Coil Spring Suspension |
2.Package Includes:
2x Front Lower Ball Joints - K8695T
1x Front Upper Control Arm -Passenger Side K80052
1x Front Upper Control Arm -Driver Side K80054
3.Note
Although some parts have grease fittings, other parts are factory sealed, but do not affect the fit and quality of the parts.
Please check above compatibility list to make sure it fits your vehicle.
If you want to find more about suspension kits,clicking our store.
Suspension Control Arm
Control arms are installed in pairs on the front and rear axle and connect the chassis to the wheels as part of the suspension. Therefore, they have a significant influence on the driving characteristics of the vehicle.
A dynamic or a comfortable driving style? The control arms are individually adjusted to the vehicle depending on the desired characteristics. They also absorb lateral movements and forces resulting from driving off and braking.
Control Arm Bushing Replacement Reference:
Control arms themselves do not generally wear out, but the control arm bushings and ball joints do, so you will likely need to remove them to service those components. Yet, some OEMs or parts suppliers do not sell bushings and ball joints separately, so you may have to purchase the entire control arm and replace it as a unit. Also, control arms can become bent or damaged as the result of a collision or driving through a deep pothole, so control arms do need to be inspected for damage. Many control arms are now made from forged or sintered aluminum, so you may need to measure for damage or check it on an alignment machine.
Picture(A)
1.Remove the coil spring and steering knuckle by following the steps in previous skill drills.
2.Loosen the bolts holding the upper control arm in place. Note that there might be shim packs held in by the bolts. If so, tape them together in their packs, and label their positions.
Picture(B)
3.Remove the lower control arm by removing the bolts holding it in place. As you dismantle the system components, carry out a constant inspection of the parts being removed. Doing so will aid you when you need to order replacement parts. You should also mark mating parts with white paint to aid in reassembly.
Picture(C)
4.Inspect the upper and lower control arm for wear or damage. If the control arm bushings show signs of excessive wear or deterioration of the bushing material, they will have to be replaced.
5.Replace the worn bushings in the upper and/or lower control arm. Replacement of control arm bushings can be performed two ways — with a hydraulic press with correctly sized press tools or with an air chisel. Be careful using an air chisel: Damage to the control arm can result, such as gouging the mounting surface of the bushing if you slip with the chisel.
Picture(D)
6.Press method: Place the control arm in a hydraulic press supported so the bushing is level to the press head. Using the correct-sized adapter, press the bushing out.
Picture(E)
7.Using the press, install the new bushing into the control arm. Be careful to start the bushing in straight, or you could bend the control arm. Press it in until the flange bottoms out.
Picture(F)
8.Air chisel method: Install the control arm in a vise. Use an air chisel to work the bushing out. Be careful not to gouge the mating surface of the control arm.
Picture(G)
9.Using the air hammer, drive the new bushing into place, making sure it is fully seated.
Ball Joint Preventive Maintenance:
Some ball joints use zerk grease fittings, which allow for periodic lubrication of the moving ball and stationary socket inside the ball joint. Grease fittings can sometimes be found on other suspension components and need to be lubricated as part of a preventive maintenance program provided by the OEM.
Loaded Upper Ball Joint Play Measurement:
The most common problem in the suspension system is play, or looseness of the parts. Although many of the parts are designed with special connections that allow for movement to accommodate movement of the wheels, excessive play is actually a bad thing. Excessive play magnifies the feel of road imperfections and makes the steering less responsive to steering wheel input. Excessive play is potentially very damaging, as it causes wear on the connecting parts and tires. Naturally, any amount of play in a fixed part is problematic and is frequently a result of part failure. Remember, unwanted looseness in the suspension system can be extremely dangerous and should be corrected as soon as possible.
Picture(A)
1.Obtain a properly sized block of wood to fit between the upper control arm and the frame.
2.Place the block of wood between the upper control arm and frame so that it is secure.
Picture(B)
3.Raise the vehicle by lifting the body, using the specified lift points, so that the tire is a few inches off the ground. Support the body with a jack stand.
4.Place a dial indicator on the upper control arm and vertically against the steering knuckle.
5.Place a pry bar under the tire, and pry it upward, watching the dial indicator reading as you pry and release. Record the total amount of movement in the joint, and compare to the OEM specifications.
Picture(C)
6.Rock the bottom of the tire in and out, watching for play in the lower ball joint, and compare to OEM specifications.
Loaded Lower Ball Joint Play Measurement:
1.Jack up the vehicle, place safety stands under the control arms, and look up the exact procedure in the online service information.
2.Place a dial indicator on the lower control arm and vertically against the steering knuckle.
3.Place a pry bar under the tire and pry it upward, watching the dial indicator reading as you pry and release. Record the total amount of movement in the joint, and compare to the OEM specifications.
4.Rock the top of the tire in and out, watching for any play in the upper ball joint specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
(1).What is a control arm and how does it work?
A control arm is a suspension component, usually made of heavy gauge steel or aluminum, that links the steering knuckle in the front — or axle carrier in the rear — to the frame of the vehicle. Many vehicles have upper and lower control arms. The inboard link(s) of the arm securely bolt to the frame of the vehicle through rubber bushings, while the outboard link of the control arm connects to the steering knuckle through a ball joint; all of which allow the control of the up and down movement of the steering knuckle or axle carrier. This minimizes the transmission of shock and vibration to the vehicle's body.
(2).When to consider replacing a control arm?
The structural portion of the control arm can last the life of the vehicle — except for cases of corrosion or crash damage. However, the rubber bushings and the ball joint in a control arm have a limited life. A mechanic should investigate if you notice:
Wheel alignment difficulties. Should the bushings, or the ball joint, in a control arm be worn, it will be impossible to properly align the vehicle. The worn components, or the entire arm, must be replaced.
Vehicle won't track straight or pulls to one side. A car will not track straight and may require constant steering correction if there is a worn, bent, or loose control arm.
Clunking or squeaking noise. A loose control arm, or a control arm with dried out, rotted, or loose bushings, may move enough to cause detectable noise from the suspension as you go over bumps in the road.
Vehicle pulls to one side only when braking. Worn bushings or ball joints can allow control arm to shift when braking, causing the vehicle to pull to one side. Although, this could also be caused by brake calipers.
(3).Do I need to replace the control arm if the bushings are worn? What is the safety risk?
Because the weight of the car is transferred through the control arm two rubber bushings are fitted at the pivot point and bolted to the frame. Road conditions and driving habits can contribute to the wear of these bushings which will become worn and fall apart. These bushing can be inspected by raising the car up and looking for an irregular configuration of the rubber center of the bushing. Many control arms have the ball joint manufactured into the arm which will be replaced along with the control arm itself. When one control arm is worn it is highly advised to replace the opposing arm.
(4).Is it safe to drive with a control arm problem?
No. If the car wanders on the road, pulls to one side, or noise from the suspension is loud, you need to schedule repair right away. Should the problem be limited to low levels of noise, such as clunking or squeaking, continued use of the car is reasonable until you can schedule a repair. Should the control arms be damaged as a result of a collision, it would be unsafe to drive the car until it is repaired.
(5).Attentions
The number of control arm types vary from vehicle to vehicle depending on the design of the vehicle suspension.
Control arms should be replaced in pairs — arms on both sides of a front or rear axle — if the reason for replacement is worn control arm bushings or a worn ball joint.
All other suspension components should be inspected when control arms are replaced because looseness, damage, or excessive wear in other parts of the suspension system will make it impossible to perform a wheel alignment after the control arms are replaced.
(6).What common symptoms indicate front ball joint need to be replaced?
1.Clunking noise from front tires.
2.Steering wheel shakes.
3.Car moves to the right or left, especially going over the bumps.
4.Vehicle tires have abnormal wear.
(7).Is it safe to drive with a ball joint problem?
The ball joint connects the control arm to the steering knuckle. As the wheels – and therefore the steering knuckles – move, the ball joints help the suspension – and therefore the control arm – stay steady. And as the suspension moves, the ball joints help the wheels steer. When the ball joints fail, the suspension and wheels have a hard time working independent of each other. This puts unnecessary strain on each component, which can alter wheel alignment and severely damage the suspension.
(8).Are worn ball joints dangerous?
Yes, it can be quite dangerous. Because, a worn ball joint causes suspension damage, inspection failure, and breakage of related parts.
It might make your front suspension come apart while driving, so the wheels move in whatever direction inertia takes them. That can lead to a fatal accident.
(9).What happens if I don't replace ball joints?
If you don't want to replace your ball joints, then get ready to experience some serious issues. The old ball joints cause mysterious clunking noise or drifting steering. Once they are worn-out, it will seriously affect your steering and suspension. However, you do not need to change the ball joints if it is new.
(10).Do I need to grease new ball joints?
I would say it will be a wise decision if you grease your new ball joints. At least I will always grease a new one after the installation. Greasing a new ball joint will make it stronger and extend its lifetime because there is a minimal amount of grease inside. I suggest you do so after the first installation. Follow the instruction card.
