Happy New Year everyone!!

I will post more details on this thread but am having a celebratory drink (ok 3!) after re-doing driver side upper A-arm and outer tie rod. Did pass side Christmas wknd.

Both adventures took about 4 hours and I felt trashed afterwards, but road feel is 80% less klunky!!! I have new sway bar bushes but need to recover before that project

My biggest bitch...if these are wear parts, why the **** do they make the upper A arm nuts near the firewall so Ffffff'ing hard to access.

But lots of swearing and "Job done!"

If you are plannung this project, PM me for lots of advice!!

Randy

 

I feel for you! Those dang bolts on the upper A arms on the drivers side are a SOB to work on.
Glad you got it as some instructions say to remove the brake/master cylinder stuff which you do NOT want to do if possible.
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You know!! Next time I will put new bolt in from firewall side and nut inside wheel well by air strut!!

 

or get a half decent ratcheting wrench

the job is so easy it shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes a side once you get the wheels off

 

Xalty...you must know other secrets! I had rachet wrenches, extenders, swivels...there is just too many AC pipes, black plastic bullshshit pipes, wiper fluid resevoirs...

I know now why my British guy charges 4 hours at $185 because he takes all the shrouds, covers, etc off so a simple ratchet wrench works!!

 

my bad i forgot they moved the washer tank to that dumb spot on the mid 05s

before that all you need is an electric ratchet with a hand finish

 

Can the front upper control arms be replaced without removing the air spring assemblies?

 

yes remove the top nuts and swing the air spring in the direction you need to slide the bolt out

 

The upper arm firewall bolts, as well as the fronts on both the 04, & 07.
Were accomplished by using the flex ratchet wrenches.
Never thought about taking the upper shock bolts out then pivoting them