Control Arm install- remove struts?

[GregF]

Wrestling with some new control arms- managed to get the old ones out but the new ones are pretty stubborn. I'm replacing the front strut as well but am hesitant to remove it and leave the hub hanging on the axle. BUT I think it would make the job much easier- is it ok to remove the control arm and front strut at the same time?

 

[Dpro]

Look a it this way . Your strut bolts to the knuckle , the knuckle attachies to the control arm via the ball joint .
You do not need to remove the strut to disconnect the ball joint and knuckle . In fact it will hold the knuckle stationery for removing the ball joint . If you want you can unbolt the knuckle if you want to try to remove the ball joint from the knuckle on the bench.
Otherwise most mechanics would put the car in air . Pull the cotter pin and pickle fork the ball joint out of the knuckle thereby removing the control arm once the bolt through the crossmember/subframe is removed on the opposite side.
So it’s really a question of how much time you want to spend doing it as removing the strut will take more time and make the job more complicated than it needs to be.

 

[GregF]

Thanks- I did just that to get the control arms out, using the knuckle for leverage with the car on jacks. I'm now having trouble getting the new control arms in, it seems like the arm wants to be horizontal to slide in but with the knuckle in place I'm forcing it at an angle and it doesn't want to go in.

I'm replacing the struts, too, so they are coming out next anyways. I'm wondering if, without the strut, would the knuckle be pretty easy to lift up out of the way? Or would it be hanging and putting force on the axle that it shouldn't?

Thought the control arms might be a good while your in there, didn't realize it would be the hardest part!

 

[Dpro]

Thanks- I did just that to get the control arms out, using the knuckle for leverage with the car on jacks. I'm now having trouble getting the new control arms in, it seems like the arm wants to be horizontal to slide in but with the knuckle in place I'm forcing it at an angle and it doesn't want to go in.

I'm replacing the struts, too, so they are coming out next anyways. I'm wondering if, without the strut, would the knuckle be pretty easy to lift up out of the way? Or would it be hanging and putting force on the axle that it shouldn't?

Thought the control arms might be a good while your in there, didn't realize it would be the hardest part!

If you unbolt the knuckle from the strut and it’s not attached tot he crontrol arm it will fall on the ground 😂 if you are not supporting . Though without the knuckle attached to the strut it might be easier to press it down onto the ball joint on the control arm. Most guys i shops get the control arms back on the knuckle even with it attached to the strut .

 

[GregF]

Yeah that was my concern, thought I'd double check in case I was missing as easy solution. Back to the dead weight hammer we go! Itching to get her back on the road.

Thanks for the insight!