Anyone replaced a rear lower control arm lately?

hunta

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405
Just wondering whether anyone's had cause to fit a new offside rear lower control arm lately and if so whether you've had any issues with the new part?
 

safrane

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16,746
I had one of Eurospares ones fitted to my GS a few years back... fitted fine and has been peefect ever since.
 

davy83

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2,809
I believe these replacement parts castings are heavier than the original because of the cracking problem. There are other threads one here some where about issues with fitting. I got the impression they do fit it just requires patience and a little inginuity, possibly different mounting brackets? I have replaced both my rear lower (and upper) arms and its not the easiest job, even with the original sized design. They are shimmed to fit and that can make it feel like its a tight fit. The lower adjuster is also prone to rusting in place and the ball joint covers crack, apart from that they are great. If you are fitting new then all of this will be ok. It might be worth looking up the threads on the upgraded ball joint cover that don't crack and perish so easily as i fitted these to my last two and they have been much longer lasting than the first replacements
 

Gp79

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1,393
Just reading a thread re front subframe refurb - and I’m wondering if the ball joint gaiters are the same front to rear, and (front) upper with lower..?


The rear gaiters are different, Craig Waterman sells these but I did get one from suprano Stu.

I’m sure the front gaiters are the same upper to lower, give me a week and I can confirm this when I get home.
 

Wally

Member
Messages
244
I believe these replacement parts castings are heavier than the original because of the cracking problem. There are other threads one here some where about issues with fitting. I got the impression they do fit it just requires patience and a little inginuity, possibly different mounting brackets? I have replaced both my rear lower (and upper) arms and its not the easiest job, even with the original sized design. They are shimmed to fit and that can make it feel like its a tight fit. The lower adjuster is also prone to rusting in place and the ball joint covers crack, apart from that they are great. If you are fitting new then all of this will be ok. It might be worth looking up the threads on the upgraded ball joint cover that don't crack and perish so easily as i fitted these to my last two and they have been much longer lasting than the first replacements

The stuff is (as far as I know) produced bij OCAP (italy) and the quality of their ball joint covers is terrible! If you don't swap it before installation, I give you 1 year at the most before it disintegrates...
 

TimR

Member
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2,654
Finally separated the ball joints..
After some cautious deliberation, the lower stripped the insert from the hub carrier..! Tighter than a fishes ar5e- and that's water tight !

Looking at the covers...I agree; replacement is a no brainer. Lowers dont look the same as the uppers but presumably, just a different sized boot, flip it and fit it..?I should just try and source a full set if possible....
On that note, I remember Craig had an ad in one of the forum boards offering the rear covers..but I cant find it...
Any one know what im on about..?


cheers
 
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TimR

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2,654
Are these the chappies? Not sure if I've got the wrong end of the stick though.

Am fairly certain these used to be FOC though.
FOC...! With what I wonder...a new control arm ?
Yeah...those are the ones. I thought Craig had a sticky posted on a forum board that introduced the problem and the boots, albeit briefly, offering the overseas sale thereof.
I guess time passes, and arrangements too....?
 

Navcorr

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3,839
IIRC they were FOC with any purchase. Think the FD website had a banner with something like "don't forget to ask for ....". This was a few years ago and aa you say things change. At least their photo clearly shows the upper & lower cover are different.
 

TimR

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2,654
Dammn..I should have tried that when I bought my roll bars...!
Sure...top and bottom boots different both front and rear then by all accounts...
Happily mine are intact on the rear..not sure I can remove the rear struts without separating the ball joints (x1?) which risks damage....
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
Dammn..I should have tried that when I bought my roll bars...!
Sure...top and bottom boots different both front and rear then by all accounts...
Happily mine are intact on the rear..not sure I can remove the rear struts without separating the ball joints (x1?) which risks damage....

On the rear? The strut is located on the hub carrier, not the wishbone. You can undo the 4 nuts that locate the strut top, compress the spring and remove the stud that locates through the hub carrier to remove the strut. If you want to remove the wishbone the ball joint isn’t on a taper, it is also located by the a stud that runs through the toe adjustment rod. Remove the nut, push the hub back to expose the flats on the nose of the ball joint, lock two nuts on the end of the stud and wind it out of the ball joint while holding it on the flats.