Ford Freestar Control Arm Heads-up

[steven kiser]

beware the freestar control arm. had one in yesterday for a lower ball joint failure. the control arm must be replaced. the bolts go through the sub frame. not only are they lock tighted but the one i did must have seen the beach or something along those lines because the bolts were corrouded. i was in the next bay and my son was removing the bolts and i heard dadda dadda snap. i went over and bolt was broken. i thought he had inadvertantly had the gun on tighten. i checked and it was fine. i tried it on the next bolt and is turned slowly and stopped. i heated the bolt and let it cool down a bit and took it off with an air ratchett. i did it with the rest. i cut a slot into the broken bolt with a wizzer, heated up the area around it and unscrewed it. i let it cool down and installed the new control arm. the threadded collar that the bolt fits into is the kind that the bolt cuts it's own threads in as it's tightened. make sure it's clean. i tried to install the bolts and they started to really fight me. i cleaned them with a thread cleaner and it went much smoother. i used lock tight when i reinstalld it. take my advice. heat the bolts to loosten the lock tight. the flat rate time is only .8. pad it. super man couldn't do it in that time. the inner ear on the rear mount is slightly elevated when tight. don't think it's not secure. once it's been heated it will back right out so a 15mm shallow swivel will fit nicely. hope this saves someone.

[a&mauto]

Thanks for the heads up Steven.

[steven kiser]

as alway's, my pleasure.............................

[Tim Martin]

Yea, I agree, it is really nice and thoughtful when a tech finds a easy way to do something or a shortcut to getting the job done. I will file this one away in my Job Notes Folder on my computer. Thanks Steve. Will return the favor when I can.

[erlesauto]

Been there done that. heat up the area around the bolts and they will come out easily. I found out the hard way.
Paul

[Stewart Levy]

Did Anyone post this in the Tech Tips yet!

[fortknoxx]

shhhhh! it's our secret.

Did Anyone post this in the Tech Tips yet!