Install Upper and Lower Control Arms

[Mustangcwo]

Began the install of the new control arms, solid lowers and adjustable uppers. After much thought and discussion, I decided to keep the car streetable and not to rigid. I choose poly bushing throughout to include the spring isolators. New springs are from a 5.0 LX. Here are a few pics:

Lowers

Old setup

Jack positioned under control arm to release spring once bolt is removed

New Lower and spring installed

More pics to follow once I get the passenger lower installed and the uppers.

 

[northerncountry]

Nice CWO should be even more fun keep the pics comming.

 

[Mustangcwo]

I have the lowers installed and I'm working on removing the bushing from the rear diff. Any suggestions on how to remove these bushings??

 

[02gt]

I have the lowers installed and I'm working on removing the bushing from the rear diff. Any suggestions on how to remove these bushings??

LOL sawz all....LOL

 

[02gt]

oh and a a punch and a heavy hammer will get it out...

 

[Ford1288]

Man I wish the underneath of my car was that clean. Have fun finishing!

 

[Mustangcwo]

Moved onto the upper arms..GMS...and new bushings.

Here is the bushing removal:

First I drilled out some rubber around the center metal pin:

Then I used a punch to knock out the pin:

Lastly, I removed the rubber bushing with a screwdriver:

 

[Mustangcwo]

Next came installing the new bushings:

I installed the bushing without the center pin. The bushing comes with some silicone grease that allows them to slide in fairly easy.

Then I inserted the center pin

 

[Mustangcwo]

Before:

After:

No ORANGE, it wasn't done at JBA!!!

 

[Tommy]

Nice.

Did you set your pinion angle?

 

[orange395w]

Nice!! Good work! You should do that stuff on your car more often.

 

[Mustangcwo]

Nice.

Did you set your pinion angle?

I have not set the pinion angle yet. I'm going to take it to the hobby shop and put it on the drive up lift. I'm not quite certain how to set it, but I'll learn. I also have to grease the lower bushings and finish with the rust converter. Will be working most of that tomorrow. Plan on setting pinion angle at 2 and see what happens.

 

[orange395w]

I have not set the pinion angle yet. I'm going to take it to the hobby shop and put it on the drive up lift. I'm not quite certain how to set it, but I'll learn. I also have to grease the lower bushings and finish with the rust converter. Will be working most of that tomorrow. Plan on setting pinion angle at 2 and see what happens.

I have a nifty little digital angle finder that you can use.

 

[orange395w]

~If all the control arms have Factory bushings: Set Pinion Angle 3 degrees to 4 degrees downward.
~If all the control arms have Poly bushings: Set Pinion Angle 2 1/2 degrees to 3 degrees downward.
~If all the control arms have Solid bushings: Set Pinion Angle 1 degrees to 1 ½ degrees downward.

 

[Mustangcwo]

I have a nifty little digital angle finder that you can use.

Thanks for the offer, but I need to pick one up for myself. I think they sell them at Home Depot. That way I can make adjustments as I go.

 

[orange395w]

Thanks for the offer, but I need to pick one up for myself. I think they sell them at Home Depot. That way I can make adjustments as I go.

You can get the basic one for under $10 or you can get a digital one. The sears digital one is about $36 and the Husky one (home depot) is $40. The digital ones will be more accurate because they will give you the decimal point rather than you looking at a bunch of lines and guessing, but either will work.

 

[wickedstangs]

I also have two of them if you need to borrow them...

 

[Mustangcwo]

Picked a digital one up at Home Depot today and set the angle to -2.7deg. Hope that it makes a different on the 60'. Took the car out for a little spin and the new rear suspension feels awesome; better than new.

 

[orange395w]

Picked a digital one up at Home Depot today and set the angle to -2.7deg. Hope that it makes a different on the 60'. Took the car out for a little spin and the new rear suspension feels awesome; better than new.

Sweet! Can't wait to see it at the track again. I'll have to live through my other foxbody brethren while the beast is sleeping.

 

[sdsubzero4]

Picked a digital one up at Home Depot today and set the angle to -2.7deg. Hope that it makes a different on the 60'. Took the car out for a little spin and the new rear suspension feels awesome; better than new.

Good to hear.