Front Control Arms

I tried searching forums but I didn't find much. I have reached the point where I need to replace the front control arm bushings. I told the shop that I am looking at putting more quality parts on (Better than Stock), they told me it would be better to just replace the whole control arm. As I cant find the 2003-2004 cobra control arms is there another set people recommend?

I've been using the moog stock replacements. they have everything new and new ball joints.

OPR Mustang Front Lower Control Arm and Ball Joint Assembly - Driver Side 388945 (94-04 All) - Free Shipping
This could be an option

Global West delalum bushings.
Delrin w/alum sleeves and grease fittings.
Also shifts the arms forward for more caster.

I have the Del-A-Lum's 1076RD on order. I think they are the best way to go, but I have had them on order for several months through Summit (best price I found) and they are still 2 months away from being shipped. I have read about some issues with polyurethane bushings wearing out. This led me to the Global West bushings. Nice anodized aluminum housing, Delrin (or something very similar), multiple bearing surfaces, and greasable. I also have Steeda X2s on order, and like the Del-A-Lum's, have been waiting for them for several months now. I looked at the BMR AA043 LCAs as an option and may still do that and cancel the other orders. I do not want to go with coil-overs. Maximim Motorsport makes some LCA bushings but I think they are way over priced. Prothane and Energy Suspension offer poly bushings. Steeda sells some, but hey are really just Energy Suspension parts. Hope this gives you something to ponder on.

shurur said:

Global West delalum bushings.
Delrin w/alum sleeves and grease fittings.
Also shifts the arms forward for more caster.

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I used to have a car with those global west bushings and the car road like a school bus: harsh like as in any trip over road gaps resulted in a bang and if you drove over a dime you felt it. Plus no matter how often You greased them, they would squeak too. I would not do those bushings on a daily driven car.

Ironmancanada said:

I used to have a car with those global west bushings and the car road like a school bus: harsh like as in any trip over road gaps resulted in a bang and if you drove over a dime you felt it. Plus no matter how often You greased them, they would squeak too. I would not do those bushings on a daily driven car.

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That sounds more like a shock/spring choice to me.
I have these bushings with koni sa/hr race.
Maybe some noise is translated through the bushings though..especially with oem (No CO) spring mounts..dunno.

I'm looking at either the BMR front LCA or some used cobra LCA and just pressing in new bushings. Let me know what your thoughts are. Also, what are your opinions of the steeda x2.

Suspension

you could intially just keep your arms and go with es poly bushings. this list alludes to the supposed harshness of the gw bushings..

Any bushing you choose is better than the oem rubber.

good to know if I get a set of 2003 cobra arms from like pick and pull is there anything I need to be concerned with? this way I can get them cleaned up (sandblasted to remove rust/painted/new bushings put in with the x2 ball joints) while I'm still driving my car.

I would not get too obsessed about those particulars terminator arms.
I would just get some ebay or salvage arms and buy the bushings and ball joints of your choice.

Torch the old rubber bushings out and pickle fork the ball joint out.
Wire brush the arms, rust convert paint, prime and top coat.

Then install the new bushing and joints yourself or have a shop take them from there.

X2 are good if you plan to lower it, but plenty of folks do fine without them and just go moog.
I think it matters, but others say no for a daily driver.

I phased in my bushings, x2 and bumpsteer last...in that order....after my springs, rack bushings, cc plates and lower endlinks...

The last thing I replaced was my struts.

You may go in there a few times anyway...you are a mustang guy..we can't help ourselves..

I still have yet to get my solid steering shaft installed and 15:1 rack...and plan to do that when I replace my headers and k member.....and I may go CO someday...

My point is..it never ends..

Having said all that..the bmr arms look like the best oem replacement LCA I have ever seen...

From experience, unless you have a hd press, let a shop press your ball joints in and new ones in, for me it was a PITA,.... also if your stang is a daily driver then stick to prothane type bushings. My .02 cents.

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I got my X2 and I will be sticking with prothane. I don't want a harsh ride.

I am just doing this now on mine.

Removed control arms and pressed ball joints but using the parts from a couple different O'Reilly's ball joint tool kits and my hydraulic press. Burned up the small bushings, pried out the larger "hydro" bushings.

Installed Prothane bushings and new Ford ball joints from Maximum Motorsports.

FYI, you need to pull the steering rack off (loose) to get the front control arm bolts out.

I did not bother painting, as they were in excellent shape and just get grungy when the brake dust and road dust right away anyway. Just cleaned them.

Having a lift, and air, and press in my garage makes a huge difference. Would not attempt on jackstands unless you are young and are a glutton for punishment...

cbrown9064 said:

I am just doing this now on mine.

Removed control arms and pressed ball joints but using the parts from a couple different O'Reilly's ball joint tool kits and my hydraulic press. Burned up the small bushings, pried out the larger "hydro" bushings.

Installed Prothane bushings and new Ford ball joints from Maximum Motorsports.

FYI, you need to pull the steering rack off (loose) to get the front control arm bolts out.

I did not bother painting, as they were in excellent shape and just get grungy when the brake dust and road dust right away anyway. Just cleaned them.

Having a lift, and air, and press in my garage makes a huge difference. Would not attempt on jackstands unless you are young and are a glutton for punishment...

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Front control arms on jack stands is actually pretty simple.

I did mine on jackstands, it wasn't too bad. The ball joints are no joke though. I ended up

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98 Cobra Vert said:

I did mine on jackstands, it wasn't too bad. The ball joints are no joke though. I ended up

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Taking them to a shop to be pressed back in. A press would have been nice along with a life (envious)

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I'm going to do mine on jack stands. I have a press so that's not a problem. I'll do MM rack bushings, Golbal West LCA bushings, MM bumpsteer, ES shorter end links, and X2s at that time.

I didn't say you cannot do them on jackstand, just that you must have to be a glutton for punishment to do so. Much easier on a lift in my own garage. You guys are also (betting) 30+ years younger than me...

Ball joints on a press are easy. Just borrow the tool from O'Reilly (or wherever) and use the sleeves in your press. Way easier than messing around with that stupid C clamp thingy, that probably is too small anyway. I need one tool kit to press them out and the combo of one kit and another (4wd kit) to press them in. Took less than 15 minutes to press them out and back in.