Upper control arms

[Solow 300]

Took my car in for service and they told me I need to replace my upper control arms because the bushing were going bad and making noise. To make a long story short they wanted to charge me 254.00 and 85.00 labor per control arm.I talked to a friend that's a mechanic and does side jobs and he told me to order a set and he would put them on. I was thinking of ordering an oem set but I want to know what aftermarket brands are good.

[fnkycld]

You will only need to go with the aftermarket set if you are really low to help correct camber. Even as low as I am right now, I still have the stock control arms on my car.

[EMMJAY]

Im glad this came up, im in need of UCAs too and didnt know if i needed adjustables ones or not....btw how low are you fnky??

[fnkycld]

Im glad this came up, im in need of UCAs too and didnt know if i needed adjustables ones or not....btw how low are you fnky??

Last time I measured I was about 4 1/2" less than a stock suspension car with 22"s I had to cut the front body pinch weld as my tires would have been cut by it at this point as well as notching the body pinch weld where the rear upper control arm hit and notching the subframe where the axle rubbed on it.

Here is a current picture.

Here are a couple of pics from SF7

Attachment 41512
Attachment 41513
Attachment 41514

[EMMJAY]

Last time I measured I was about 4 1/2" less than a stock suspension car with 22"s I had to cut the front body pinch weld as my tires would have been cut by it at this point as well as notching the body pinch weld where the rear upper control arm hit and notching the subframe where the axle rubbed on it.

Here is a current picture.

ohhh I didnt know a pic was in ur sig, i was on my phone lol thanks for the info...btw the ride =

[karfreek]

Go with the Eibach adjustables. They are $100 more per set than the made in china ones and give you full adjustability and you can service the ball joint if it goes bad. I just put them on my car, nice stuff.

Jay

[fnkycld]

Adjustable upper control arms are good for cars that are not incredibly low or cars with air bags. The placement of the upper ball joint and the space that it takes up within the upper fender well will keep an air bagged car from going down all the way. The upper control are will actually hit the upper fender well when all the way collapsed.

[Solow 300]

So i'm better off if get another set of oem control arms? My car's not lowered it's stock height I do have 24's on it.

[karfreek]

Look two posts above.

Jay

[pioneer1]

You will only need to go with the aftermarket set if you are really low to help correct camber. Even as low as I am right now, I still have the stock control arms on my car.

I do not see how you are still using stock control arms being that low and keeping correct camber.

[fnkycld]

So i'm better off if get another set of oem control arms? My car's not lowered it's stock height I do have 24's on it.

If you are looking for a standard replacement than that is the way to go. If you are ok with spending the extra amount, go with the adjustable ones.
Another thing to keep in mind. You have 24"s, you probably had to trim the ball joint stud, if the aftermarket adjustable one has the stud that is longer you will need to cut that as well. Need to verify clearance.

I do not see how you are still using stock control arms being that low and keeping correct camber.

Do I have my original oem control arms.... Yes
I never said that I am able to keep my front camber within spec. In fact, if I didn't have the camber I have now, I probably wouldnt be able to sit where I am now.

[mrcho304]

would these work?
More Information for DORMAN 521008

What would you choose?
RockAuto Parts Catalog

[fnkycld]

would these work?
More Information for DORMAN 521008

What would you choose?
RockAuto Parts Catalog

Cho, I would not reccomend using the adjustable ball joints. You have air bags so the camber changes all the time and it only matters where the car is when you are driving anyway. Plus the upper part of the ball joint will hit the inside part of the top of the wheel well, as the adjustable ball joint is taller than the stock control arm.

As for those with 24"s see the pics below.
this is what the oem upper control arm looks like and you may have had to trim the bottom side of the ball joint stud to clear the 24"s.


this is the adjustable upper control arm and as you can see the length of the ball joint stud is longer than the oem style, thus you may not have enough room to mount your 24"s



Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that this is what you have to do, but this is my opinion.

[mrcho304]

[QUOTE=fnkycld;4055757]Cho, I would not reccomend using the adjustable ball joints. You have air bags so the camber changes all the time and it only matters where the car is when you are driving anyway. Plus the upper part of the ball joint will hit the inside part of the top of the wheel well, as the adjustable ball joint is taller than the stock control arm.

So what would you suggest for bagged cars? I'm thinking I'm going to have to replace mine cause theres lots of play in mine and now the left side is making noise.