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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => Topic started by: Walnut777 on April 29, 2019, 10:43:14 PM
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Im having to replace my lower control arm.
I followed several peoples instructions. Here is what I did.
Removed wheel, removed caliper, removed spindle.
Had a Jack putting pressure on lower control arm while.vehicle was on Jackstands.
Ran chain through coil spring and secured it.
Unbolted sway bar and shock.
Sloooowlllyyyy let down the Jack.
Coil spring still had tension and could not remove.
I'm going to have to try again tomorrow night and my truck is taking up one of my friends lifts at his garage.
Not sure what I did wrong but I was testing my luck with that coil spring.
I can get ahold of a coil spring compressor but I had several close calls with those tools and not really a fan. Maybe if they would have a locking mechanism to keep them from popping loose I wouldn't be so afraid.
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Raise front of vehicle and place jack stands under frame, allowing control arms to hang free.
Disconnect shock absorber and stabilizer bar from lower control arm.
Install a suitable jack, place jack under cross shaft so cross shaft seats in grooves of jack.
Place a safety chain or strap through coil spring and lower control arm, then raise jack, relieving tension from coil spring.
Remove cross shaft to crossmember U-bolts, lower jack slowly and remove spring.
Reverse procedure to install.
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It would be easier to disconnect the lower ball joint.
Like Vile said, make sure the truck is high enough on jack stands to let the arm swing free.
Compress the spring at the ball joint, unbolt the ball joint.
You may have to use a pickle fork to get the ball joint to separate, slowly let the arm down.
What's wrong with your LCA anyway?