Lower Control Arms - after amrket

[aerojock]

After doing some research here on control arms I have noticed that all the post are old, so I have to asked the question again. Has anyone used after market control arms and had any success with them. I like the price but I am not to sure on the quality.

Someone mentioned Dorman as a possible source but at the time they were unavailable through them. I have no history with this maker and again was wondering about them. Here is a link to one on ebay.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dorman-Contr...e0a217&vxp=mtr

It would be easier just to replace the entire arm.

Thanks in advance,

Jim

[Tire Shredder]

I have never used aftermarket control arms but I have purchased a dorman product for my corolla in the past.

It was a parking brake cable, and it honestly was better quality than the original toyota component I had removed. Thick sheathing, cad plating and vinyl-coated innner cable. I'd purchase a product with their name on it again.

[oneheadlight]

I have a dorman celica control arm right in front of me, quality wise it looks good. They come with the greasable ball joint but it doesnt have the steering stoppers like the factory ones. Also its made in Taiwan.

[aerojock]

They come with the greasable ball joint but it doesnt have the steering stoppers like the factory ones. Also its made in Taiwan.

Thanks for the info about the steering stoppers. I think I will rebuild a set I have.

[oneheadlight]

Good choice, I'm going to rebuild mine also with poly urethane bushings.

[aerojock]

placed my order today.

[aerojock]

OK phase one complete, the ball joints are in.

I had an extra set of control arms and I decided I would overhaul these and have them ready to put on. This way I don't have to have the car on jack stands waiting for me to put them together.

The ball joints are in and it only took five minutes each. By that I mean to install them. I had already removed the old ones but that did not take more than five minutes to get them out.

I decided I would try the hot and cold method. I used MOOG ball joints and I put them in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to shrink them (remember cold contracts things). Then I would heat the opening in the control arm (remember heat expands things) to widen it up as much as possible. I kept the ball joints in a small cooler on a couple of those reusable ice packs so they would stay as small as possible, as long as possible, while I heated the control arms. I used a propane torch and heated one at a time. When I was ready I took the first ball joint out and it just slid into place. I had one small tap, and I mean it was just a tap, and the second one slid into place. THAT WAS IT! The heat from the control arm helped expand the ball joint while at the same time the cold ball joint helped the control arm opening shrink. In just a few seconds it was sung enough to turn over, without the ball joint falling out, so I could put in the snap ring.

Now I am just waiting on the bushings to go to phase two.

Since this was so easy I am sure that the next phase will give me some problems. It is not like me not to screw something up.

[aerojock]

Ok it's done. Got all new bushings and new ball joints. It took a little longer than I wanted but no big problems with it. The shake is gone and the steering is more responsive.

I do have one question. No where in the instructions to the ball joint did it say to put wire or a tie strap around the boot, is this still done or is the seal tight enough as it is.

Now back to the A/C and the power drain.


Jim