Lower control arms t-bird or mark 8 ?

[biobug1]

Are the lower control arms the same between 93 TBird and 93 Mark 8? Blogs I have read say yes.so why does everybody show different part numbers for them? they use the same ball joint.but I noticed you can buy the bushing that goes in the frame end of the arm for the Bird but nobody sells that bushing for the Mark.Is that where the difference is between the arm assemblies?has anybody done this swap? I can buy both arms and strut rod bushings for a total of $62.20 shipped from Rockauto for the TBird or get apair of the arms only for the Mark on EBay for $64.98 shipped(plus $15.00 shipped for just the strut rod bushings from Rockauto)for a total of $80.Which route do :confused I go?

 

[chris2523]

i'm not sure if they are the "same" but the lower arms (and upper arms if you are spring converted) are interchangeable.

 

[biobug1]

Turns out my local Autozone has the T bird control arms in stock.I have my mark 8 arms off and in back of the truck so I'm gonna take measuring tape and go match up the parts side by side and confirm everything.

 

[billcu]

I think the only difference was in the rubber bushing. If you have an original compare them, maybe take some photos. They might not be all that different looking though, maybe just a different rubber durometer?

 

[beerdog]

ford sells them as 2 different part numbers. Max at 5 Star Ford said they were identical parts. Ford, like other OEMS, frequently sells parts at a higher price when sold as the higher end brand. GM doe sit with Cadillac. When you would buy the good TRW parts they would arrive in boxes with the same part number regardless of the part number they were sold as.

If you can, get the parts with out a grease fitting. Those are the better parts.

 

[biobug1]

so I went to autozone and they had both bird and mark arms in stock.side by side what I found was the arms are basically identical except for 2 things.The arm to frame bushing are made different but same size and same camber bolt hole size.Second they use the same ball joint but outside diameter of the metal around the joint is larger on one of them.so basically they are the same except for price,88 for the Mark and 55 for the Bird.So I'm gonna order the Bird arms from Rockauto.

 

[biobug1]

I went back and remeasured the frame bushing it about 1/8 inch shorter so you would have to use washer(s).

 

[beerdog]

The one thing you want ot try to get is the arms that are thinner and have a sealed grease fitting. If you can. They are better. People think the thicker ones are better and that having grease fitting is better. The thicker ones are made from an inferior material and the ball joint is older technology.