upper control arm

Bryan S · Post by **Bryan S** » Thu Jul 02, 09 5:54 pm

Looking for your opinions.Barracuda failed MOT today on UCA bushes and one top ball joint,

First thing that comes to mind is, Bananarama! job.

looks about on the net and sees tube UCA's with ball joints and bushes fitted.
It works out double the price but less work also im going to the states in September so no shipping. What do you think.Bryan.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Jul 02, 09 6:10 pm

You have still got to get the old ones out!!

Gives you much more adjustment for setting up the front end the way you want.

If the car's a keeper then go for it!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Jul 02, 09 6:15 pm

Bryan.
It is not a bannana job, there are only the two adjustable A frame bolts and the nut under the top ball joint.
Wd 40 it the day before and it will fall off.

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Thu Jul 02, 09 6:30 pm

I Bananarama! was that easy....

Absolute Bananarama! of a job to get them out. Getting the new kit in is easy, so wouldn't worry what you are putting back in.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Thu Jul 02, 09 7:32 pm

They came out of my Challenger OK. Not hard at all.

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Thu Jul 02, 09 8:30 pm

Do you do home visit's, Dave?

I guess a lot of it will be dependent on things like wet miles, length of time since last change and a bit of blind luck too.

Hope your inner sleeves aren't rusted to the bolts like ours were.

Bryan S · Post by **Bryan S** » Thu Jul 02, 09 9:45 pm

Thanks lads,i just think of the old days of mk3 cortina's when my bolts always seemed to weld themselves to the inner bush.

Everybodyelse changed the bushes,i went and got a secondhand xmember.
Yes Pete it's a keeper.B.

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Fri Jul 03, 09 12:26 pm

Start using WD40 now, every day, (or your penetrant of choice!). Bushes should not be difficult (long bolt and some sockets/pipe), ball joint might be easy or an utter pain!
Heat and penetrant are your best insurance.

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Fri Jul 03, 09 1:17 pm

Todays Tip change upper ball joint before removing UCA from car !!!!
ask me ( and Stu ) how we know !!!

Bryan S · Post by **Bryan S** » Fri Jul 03, 09 7:38 pm

Go on then John tell!

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Sat Jul 04, 09 7:20 pm

Rumour has it that the UCA is relatively easy to put out of shape if you clamp it in a vice, Bryan. The theory behind splitting and replacing the ball joint on the car is that it holds everything in place and keeps it where it's meant to be whilst you put the pressure on and do the job.

In all honesty, I'm not sure you'd get enough pressure in a vice to bend the arm, but I suppose better safe than sorry.

It'd be a PITA to hold it well enough to split the bugger if you dropped everything off to do it off the car anyway, IMO. Plus, if you split it and get the ball joint off first, you'll have much better access to the UCA bolts anyway, so I'd do it in that order if I were you.

Sure there'll be differing opinions, but that's mine.

Bryan S · Post by **Bryan S** » Sun Jul 05, 09 10:14 am

Looking forward to getting started

This is why i thought of buying new UCA's with ball joints fitted.

Cheers lads B.

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Tue Jul 21, 09 2:58 pm

Fixed it yet Bryan ? Which way did you decide to go ?

Bryan S · Post by **Bryan S** » Tue Jul 21, 09 3:04 pm

No Gareth,not looked at it,maybe this weekend see what will and wont move.
Going to the states in September so will buy everything when i'm out there,in the mean time theres always the bodywork to do.
Cheers B.

Bryan S · Post by **Bryan S** » Sun Oct 04, 09 9:12 pm

Hey Gareth

Started today,went the recip saw way

,have cut away one bolt, does'nt sound much,it's just finding the best blade to do the job as you said.

Just back from the states, unfortunately my box of parts isn't, the bananarama usps sent that to kin Japan