Lower control arm install...WTF!!!!
 

I finally got around to replacing my lower control arms this weekend. I installed some MM LCA's.....and what a pain it was to get the rear bolt thru the bushing! I fought with each side for about an hour! It was almost like the control arm wasn't long enough. I think I was fighting the quad shocks to line up the rear bushing/mount to get the bolt thru! Anyone else have this problem? Would it have been easier to remove the shocks first? I don't have access to a lift, so I used jack stands and multiple jacks......it was a nightmare!....But I got them installed!

How do they feel and was it worth the effort for you.

it's to bad to hear that is was a PITA

I used a pair of jackstands and a jack to mine too. Install is not to bad just takes some muscle to move the rear end around to get the bolt holes to line up. As for the quad shocks you can toss them in the trash now cause the new lower control arms will take care of wheel hop that the quad shocks did little to help with.

Spike is right no need for quad shocks anymore...Not sure what year you have but w/ foxes getting rid of the quad shocks allows alot more room for wider tires. But if you have a 94+ that wouldn't be an issue anyway 315's fit w/o rubbing the quad shock or tailpipes.

pull the quads. it should be a bitch... you're fighting a bunch of connection points each with a bushing that's pushing against you. I had to hook onto the axle with my knees and pull it till I could get a punch in one side then just slid the bolt home (with a dead blow).

Yeah, that job wasn't too fun....especially since it was only 45 degrees and windy here when I did it. I haven't driven it yet to see what it feels like....car still on jack stands for more work. I'll let you guys know what I think when I get it out.

Oh yeah...........I bought a thicker rear sway bar from Summit. And the damn thing was too short! It needed about another 4inches to go from control arm to control arm. My car is a 99GT and the box said 79-04 Mustang. I bet it was packaged wrong....so thats going back. I just re-installed my factory sway bar. It was a pretty shitty day!

Is the factory sway bar good enough? I just have bolt ons and will be installing a 100 shot of nitrous. Street car only, don't go to a track or anything.

One good thing was that my rear rims are 9inchs wide(I thought they were 8)....so daddy's gonna get some wider Nitto drag radials soon!

I had very minimal problems with my LCAs. I have heard of people running into problems with the mufflers blocking the front bolts, but I don't have mufflers. And I disconnected my quads before I dropped the axle so only the upper control arms were attached, so getting the bolts through were easy.

What I did have a pretty big problem was when I installed the axle mount for my PHB, that sucker didn't want to line up at all and took me about 1.5 hours to attach and line up.

I still have my quads but have considered removing them. I figure they couldn't hurt to have on there.

its never supposed to be easy...but the more times you do it the easier it gets. when i put in the new LCA's i was in and out in a hour but i had my POS on a lift.

First time was a PITA for me. However, the 2nd time (spring swap) was cake when I realized the problem last time was w/ the pinion angle changing. Putting a jack under the pinion to maintain the angle makes all the difference.

I finally got the car out tonight. With the new LCA's, the rear end feels firmer/more stable. When I hit it, the back end doesn't swing out wild, like it used to. I'd say it was worth the aggravation to install. Next time it will be easier. Now I just need some drag radials!