Fit for
2007 DODGE CALIBER Excluding 1.8L Engines
2008 - 2009 DODGE CALIBER Excluding SRT + R/T
2007 - 2009 JEEP COMPASS MK FWD Models
2007 - 2009 JEEP COMPASS MK 4 Wheel Drive without Off-Road Package
2007 - 2009 JEEP PATRIOT MK FWD Models
2007 - 2009 JEEP PATRIOT MK 4 Wheel Drive without Off-Road Package
Package Includes:
2x Rear Stabilizer Sway Bar End Link - K750058
2x Rear Lower Control Arm Assembly - MS251007
Please check above compatibility list to make sure it fits your vehicle.
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.
Sway Bar
The sway bar stabilizer bar is similar to the torsion bar or antiroll bar. It is used in light vehicles as a stabilizer, or antiroll bar, and connected to the chassis in the center, and each end is connected to one side of the suspension system. Sway bars are most common on the front suspension because it is most prone to sway, but are also installed on the rear suspension in some vehicles. When the vehicle is turning, centrifugal force acts on the body and tends to make it lean outward (roll). The sway bar uses its connections to each side of the suspension to resist this roll tendency. In this way, the spring on the inside corner can assist the spring on the outside corner to bear the additional load on the outside wheels. This tends to make the vehicle corner flatter. But because the sway bar can pivot in bushings on the frame, the sway bar just pivots when both wheels go over a speed bump. Also, stiffer roll bars can be installed in a vehicle to enhance its cornering ability.
Sway Bar Stabilizer Link Removing Guideline:
The sway bar stabilizer components help prevent body roll when cornering. Although the stabilizer bar itself rarely gives any trouble, the rubber bushings on the bar and links wear out. This usually results in increased body roll as well as a clunking noise in the suspension. The stabilizer components should be checked whenever a vehicle is brought into the shop because of handling concerns or suspension-related noises.
Picture(A)
1.Safely raise the vehicle on a hoist, or use a jack and place safety stands under the frame.
2.Remove the nut holding the stabilizer bar link.
Picture(B)
3.Remove the link by hand.
Picture(C)
4.Visually inspect the rubber link grommets for cracks, softness, brittleness, or wear. Repeat with the other link.
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 is a sway bar and how does it work?
A sway bar is a torsion spring — a piece of metal that resists twisting force. The sway bar is linked to each side of the suspension on a front or rear axle and designed to help the vehicle resist body roll, or sway, during turns or sudden emergency maneuvers. A sway bar does nothing unless the body of a vehicle leans to one side; if both wheels rise — as they would when the vehicle hits a bump — or fall at the same time, the sway bar doesn't have to twist and has no effect.
(7).When to consider replacing the sway bar?
Excessive rust, corrosion, or cracking. Sway bars are typically manufactured from high-strength steel and have special coatings to resist corrosion. However, sway bars are known to crack, particularly at the ends or at welded joints. If the sway bar has visible cracks or excessive corrosion it should be replaced.
Crash damage. Sway bars are near the ground on the vehicle suspension system. Road debris, driving over parking stops, and crashes can damage the sway bar or the sway bar links to the suspension.
(8).What is the most important tip to offer to help with anti-sway bar installation?
The most important thing is to ensure is that your wheels are not hanging. The suspension should be compressed so the control arms, etc. are at the same position they would be if the vehicle were sitting at ride height. This can be done by using ramps, a drive on lift, or simply loading the wheels if the vehicle is on jack stands or a two point lift. If this is not done the arc that the bar and suspension moves through due to the excessive travel can make things very difficult to line up.
(9).Is it safe to drive with a sway bar problem?
Yes. Should you suspect that a sway bar is broken, you can still drive the car with utmost caution. You will notice the car will lean and sway more when changing lanes. Your car will feel "looser" particularly when driving at high speeds. It is possible this will cause you to lose control of the car, resulting in a serious crash if you cannot overcome the loss of control that occurs with a defective sway bar. If you're forced to drive with a broken sway bar, you need to drive slower than normal. Try to stick to surface streets and stay off highways and interstates where you might be required to change lanes. As long as you keep your speed down and don't take turns too quickly, you should be safe driving until you can have it replaced at your earliest convenience.
(10).Attentions
Never reuse rubber components in sway bar replacement.
The original equipment manufacturer's sway bar will usually offer the best fit and function but they are expensive, and there are aftermarket sway bars of high quality for most vehicles.
Whenever a suspension component like a sway bar is replaced, the entire vehicle suspension should be carefully inspected.
Although the sway bar does not factor into the adjustment of vehicle alignment, it is always a good idea to check and confirm vehicle alignment after performing major repairs on your car's suspension.
