Front suspension questions.

[XR7Kurt]

Has anyone replaced lower control arms. The new ones I got from Ford look very different at the part where the shock mounts. The old ones have bushings on both sides of the control arm that mate up to the lower shock brackets. The new ones just have a metal tube for the bolt and only the ends of the tube mate the lower shock bracket. The ends of the tube are jagged. The parts guy assures me this is the correct part and it has been a change from the original part. It just looks so different.

Next, on the strut rod bushing that is on the frame, the front one has a cup that the rubber sits in. The new bushing doesn't have this cup or retainer and I can't get the old ones seperated fron the old rubber. Do I just need to keep working on this or is this one of those things that isn't needed?

Also I don't have a torque spec for the front nut on the strut rod. Is there a torque spec or will this be taken care of when I get my front end alignment?

Thanks,
Kurt

[SuperChicken89]

Kurt... The new arm looks to be for the non-SC Thunderbird/Cougar. It may very well be the only replacement for the old arm. I also received the same arm when replacing my lower arms last fall. I questioned it when the Auto Parts store gave it to me and they assured it is the correct replacement (not a parts monkey at a discount chain... sorry Greg no offense). If you compare the 2 arms they are the same with the exception of the shock mounting bushing.
I don't remember reusing any of the old hardware for the strut bar to chassis bushings. But then again I'm getting old and the memory may be failing.
Torque spec. straight from my Ford manual... Holding tension strut with wrench as outlined, tighten front strut to sub-frame attaching nut to 90-120 lb-ft.
Hope this helps.

Bryan

[XR7Kurt]

Thanks Bryan,
that makes me feel a better. I'm pretty confident in the parts guy at the Merc dealer but I've never seen a change that looks so different.
Thanks for the torque spec, I guess I need to buy a 1 5/32" deep socket or find out if that is the nut used for front end adjustment and let it get the proper torque then.

If you get a chance could you take a peek at the front strut bushing to see if it has that cup? I know your car doesn't have any grease or grime under there to make it difficult to see. :)

Thanks again,

Kurt

[91 XR7]

Heh i just changed out the springs/shock in my cougar just the other day (friday) and i forget what the shock bushing is like on my LCA, :o

the front strut rod bushing, to get the `cups' off, you need to grind them off.. one one end or the other, you'll see what looks like a `bent over' edge at the center (where the strut rod comes through) after that.. is just basiclly falls off.. I replaced mine with Ford pieces and the kit came with a new 2 piece cup and both rubbers.. Jobber pieces may ot come that way... you may still be able to reuse the old cups thou...

[SuperChicken89]

Kurt... I'll check it tonight.

Bryan

[XR7Kurt]

the front strut rod bushing, to get the `cups' off, you need to grind them off.. one one end or the other, you'll see what looks like a `bent over' edge at the center (where the strut rod comes through) after that.. is just basiclly falls off..
I actually figured that part out on my own. :D

This is what I'm talking about, it's only on the very front rubber piece and it is between the back of the rubber and the front of the frame. The bushing sits in it.

[XR7Kurt]

Here is the front view. 91 XR7 do you remember if the ones from Ford had this or just a solid piece of rubber?

[91 XR7]

Here is the front view. 91 XR7 do you remember if the ones from Ford had this or just a solid piece of rubber?

The `kit' from ford Came with the two washers.. (looks like rivits, but one fits inside the other) a Nulock nut, and the TWO bushings..

[XR7Kurt]

The `kit' from ford Came with the two washers.. (looks like rivits, but one fits inside the other) a Nulock nut, and the TWO bushings..
Correct me if I'm wrong, you're saying the bushings from Ford were just rubber without a metal ring.

I know I'm beating this to death, but the ring looks like it keeps the bushing in shape or something so if it's needed I don't want to blow it off. I don't know why the one on the backside of the frame doesn't have it. At first I thought the ones from Ford would have this, but it doesn't show up as a seperate part so if it's needed I guess it comes attatched to the front bushing.

And to think I thought I was going to be replacing my lower ball joints. That turned into the lower control arm assembly, then to the strut bar to lower control arm bushing, and then to the front strut bar bushing since I'll have new tires. Man! Oh yeah, might as well get new rotors while the wheels are off. The funny part is I really need to get this thing out of the garage so I can do some long overdue repairs to the auto.

Blah blah blah. I know you've heard it all before.

Anyways I appreciate the help.

Kurt

[91 XR7]

heh okay i'm bad :p

looking at this sheet i got from ford..

From LCA end to front of car..

Nut..
`Sleeve'
cup Washer
Bushing
Frame
Bushing
cup Washer
Nylock...

but no metal ring type thing that i can remember...

also well redropping my car i noticed my rear suspension need to be rebuilt.. (NO WONDER why i get so much wheel hop :eek: ) and also one of the front sway bar endlinks is dead :(

[XR7Kurt]

Well maybe I'll just put the autozone bushings on since they are half the price and are sitting in my garage. I'm ready to get this back together but want to make sure it's right. If the Ford ones didn't come with it and it's not listed as a seperate part I guess it isn't needed. I hope.

Thanks

[SuperChicken89]

Kurt... It sounds like you will have to reuse the steel parts that came off the car. The 2-cup washers are needed along with the center sleeve. These items sandwich the rubber bushings around the front mounting ears of the frame. The center sleeve keeps the 2 bushings from being totally squashed together.

( [-]---[-] ) It should go something like this crude drawing. Should be: cup washer, bushing, steel sleeve, bushing, cup washer.
Hope this helps some.

Bryan

[007_SuperCoupe]

Just wanted to let you know that those shock mount bushings are correct. Those are the MOOG replacement bushings. They don't look anything like the original OEM, but that is the correct part. I actually returned the moog bushings because they looked wrong. I then saw the same bushings on the MN12 site...Those are okay. I haven't read through the whole post, and you may have already figured that out, but if not, I just wanted to let you know.

[XR7Kurt]

Hey I'm just putting this to the top to make it easier for a guy on the tech forum, because I'm dumb and don't know how to put a link to it in that thread. :confused: