Replacing Your Upper Control Arms? Take a Look at the Raybestos Replacments

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billcu

Head Moderator
I sent an email to Arnott asking if they did have the correct bushings:

The original Mark VIII front upper control arms pivot at the bushings without winding up. Do your control arms do this?

Their reply:

Ours are just like the factory O.E units but we sell quite a few of these and have not heard anyone have a problem with them. We do offer a limited lifetime warranty on them as well.

The reply wasn't very convincing, but I had to try them. The other ones are a pain to work with, and I have to believe the ride suffers, especially when the car changes height, or when I lower it with my module 8's.


I bought the Arnott upper control arms and put one on yesterday. It does have the proper bushings that move! :thumbsup:

Even the ball joints look close to original, and they are sealed like the originals.

Here's some photos showing the arm fully tightened down, and me moving it up with my pinky finger: :)
 

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beerdog

New member
suspension parts have come a long way over the years. John 2008 GT has all sealed suspension ball joints including the tie rod ends. Greasable is not always better.

Way to go Bill. I remember someone posting the Arnott's UCA's were good. I think they are well priced also.
 
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crash

New member
I ordered some Moog upper control arms from rock auto and they look just like the ones in Bill's post above. They are stamped with TRW. FYI.
 
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crash

New member
I did order a mark 8 uca. I just got them. I missed this thread.

They do not rotate. At least not with any force I could make. The part number on the boot is 10-62134 TRW.
 
Roadboss

Roadboss

On Work Release
Moog and TRW are sister companies and share some of the same components. The corporation is adjusting the product lines and the marketing channels of each, so I suspect that both names will be available for a period of time.
 
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billcu

Head Moderator
Yeah, when you install it, with the bolts tightened, before you connect the ball joint to the spindle, see if you can move the arm up and down with your hand (I moved it with my finger but it was very tight) it should move and stay there, not just wind up the rubber.
 
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beerdog

New member
What Bill said. You just cant hold the control arm in your hands and rotate the bushings. Needs to be on the car.

I am wondering if when you order the mark 8 part number you will get the TRW part. While if you order the 97 Tbird part you will get the Moog or TRW part. Everyone has always said they are different part numbers but actually the same part. If always remember people sating to order the arm using the 97 Tbird p/n since it is priced lower.
 
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chris2523

New member
i ordered part numbers CK8596 and CK8598 from Rock Auto for a 96 v8 thunderbird.
they did not rotate by hand. so i tightened the bolts after i put the car back on the ground.
 
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billcu

Head Moderator
chris2523 said:
i ordered part numbers CK8596 and CK8598 from Rock Auto for a 96 v8 thunderbird.
they did not rotate by hand. so i tightened the bolts after i put the car back on the ground.
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That's the best you can do with those types, I've done that before. They are probably ok for a coil spring car but if you change the height with air ride switches or modules they are going to wind up.

I'm not sure if I ever felt the difference, but I'm pretty sure the engineers designed them to rotate on the Lincoln for a good reason.
 
Roadboss

Roadboss

On Work Release
The trick in changing the assembly is to take a common nut and torque the unit to spec with the car on the ground. This should seat the tapper into the UCL. Then remove that nut and use the correct nut (thread locker) and torque again to spec. There shouldn't be any tuning on the taper if it is seated properly. The ball joint is spherical with a stem on it (the threaded shaft). I hope my comments help.
 
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