Strut Rod Bushings and Lower Ball Joint

[Too Many Cars]

I did a search on the forum but couldn't find the answer to this. I am getting ready to work on the front suspension of a MK8 with ~100K and the strut rod bushings are shot. The upper ball joint boots are ripped and the bushings have some play so the upper control arms need replacement. Surprisingly the lower ball joints have no play, the boots are fine and the bushings don't have play so it seems that the lower control arms were replaced somewhat recently and don't need to be replaced at this time. My question is if I disconnect the sway bar end links from the spindle and disconnect the shock from the lower control arm will this give me enough room to replace the strut rod bushings without disconnecting the lower ball joints from the spindle? I would like to avoid any chance of damaging the lower ball joint boot if I can avoid it.

 

[billcu]

You can leave the lower ball joint connected to the spindle, you'll need to remove the bolt connecting the lower control arm to the K member though. Mark the cams on the bolts so you can put them back close to where they were, for the drive to the alignment shop.

 

[Lvnmarks]

This thread on the "other" lincoln site has some good info in it. CLICK ME

 

[Too Many Cars]

Thanks for the info. Those SRB sleeves on the other site look a lot nicer than the OEM sleeves. I would be looking into something like that; however I was able to get a SRB kit from Ford lately which wasn't cheap or easy. The dealer joked and said that I probably bought the last kit available. They had to be shipped from a dealer in the Mid West. For the other side luckily I came across another kit that I forgot that I had. I bought the other SRB kit years ago when they weren't obsolete; however I never got a chance to install it.

Point taken on the alignment. The car is definitely going to need an alignment because I need to do UCAs and Inner/Outer tie rod ends also.

 

[Lvnmarks]

Thanks for the info. Those SRB sleeves on the other site look a lot nicer than the OEM sleeves. I would be looking into something like that; however I was able to get a SRB kit from Ford lately which wasn't cheap or easy. The dealer joked and said that I probably bought the last kit available. They had to be shipped from a dealer in the Mid West. For the other side luckily I came across another kit that I forgot that I had. I bought the other SRB kit years ago when they weren't obsolete; however I never got a chance to install it.

Point taken on the alignment. The car is definitely going to need an alignment because I need to do UCAs and Inner/Outer tie rod ends also.

As long as you din't go with moog you will be good.

 

[Too Many Cars]

I assume that you were referring to the strut rod bushings when you stated I would be good if I didn't go with Moog? I went with new old stock OEM Ford for the strut rod bushings and sway bar end links and new old stock Moog or TRW for the rest. I had most of the parts laying around for years intended for another car but never installed.

 

[Lvnmarks]

I assume that you were referring to the strut rod bushings when you stated I would be good if I didn't go with Moog? I went with new old stock OEM Ford for the strut rod bushings and sway bar end links and new old stock Moog or TRW for the rest. I had most of the parts laying around for years intended for another car but never installed.

Yes I did, I'm in the same boat as well. Just collecting parts right now for a front end rebuild someday. Friends of mine have had bad luck with the Moog SRB, there other stuff seems to be as good or better the OEM.

 

[Too Many Cars]

I worked on the MK8 today and for some reason I am having trouble with the front STB (K Member). I used the Ford STB kit that has the sleeves bushings etc; however it almost seems as if the Ford sleeves are too long! I get about 3/8" of play on the front SRB even though the nut seems to be bottomed out on the sleeve! Is it possible that Ford screwed up on the length of the sleeve?

I decided to change the lower control arm because I did 90% of the work to replace the strut rod bushings. I regret that decision because I tried to just hammer the spindle to loosen the joint however that didn't work so I ended up ripping the ball joint boot with a fork. Do they sell a replacement boot for this ball joint, or should I just throw the lower control arm in the garbage?

 

[Lvnmarks]

Have a new ball joint pressed in, they are $13 from rock auto.

 

[Too Many Cars]

I thought about that and after reading the thread below I have to wonder about the new Moog ball joints. I know that Moog considers the newer inferior greasable type ball joint an equivalent to the original Teflon lined sealed joint for the control arms; however if I buy a replacement ball joint what will I receive?

http://lincolnsofdistinction.org/vb...Moog-control-arm&highlight=mustang+ball+joint

 

[Ritegroove1]

Seized lower Mac/Strut bushings (front)

I switched to the Strutmaster ( Eibach) springs and the KYB struts and rear shocks on my 97, Found them to be much stiffer and handle better than the springs I put on my 96 which were the reg Strutmaster set,Any way my prob is that the lower bolts on the front struts were seized in the bushings,,the bushing is a tube then rubber and then the tube thats pressed into the strut mount,could only get the inside tube free. Do i have to somehow pusssshhh the outer tube out to be able to change these?