[ppenrod]

I've had to replace the bearings, so while I had the front end apart, I took a look at the lower control arms and discovered the ball joints were on their way out. Purchased new Moog parts and got the passenger side installed - no problem.

The driver side, however, has me stumped. I undid the tension strut as per the manual, got the control arm seated on the other end of the strut and the head of the control arm placed back between the tabs on the frame. The problem is that the hole in the tab on the frame closer to the front of the vehicle will not line up with the bolt hole in the bushing.

Is there a trick I am missing to get the frame bolt installed so I can button this car back up?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Doug]

I have 1992 Ford Taurus 3.0, V6.

Today I am having exact same problem for the driver side control arm installation.
Control arm placed back between the tabs on the frame. The problem is that the hole in the tab on the frame closer to the front of the vehicle will not line up with the bolt hole in the bushing.
Please help me.

Thanks.
Doug

 

[loudsho92]

I have faced the problem a few times and I have learned it just takes a lot of finagling. It has helped to shave down the bushing slightly to get it into place. I have had to pry into place using a large screwdriver.

 

[Doug]

1. Can I install first control arm on frame. 2. than ball joint. 3.than tension strut.
I removed completely the tension strut.

Thanks to all

Doug

 

[Lgbpop]

I had to hammer mine in on the passenger side, year before last. You also can grind the bushing faces a tiny bit on both sides of the control arm. Don't take off too much; they are hell to ungrind.

 

[Waggin]

I found it is easiest to get the ball joint in the knuckle, then slide the control arm onto the strut rod, then wiggle it into the tabs on the frame. That worked for me anyway, I've had my front end apart a half dozen times lol.

 

[Doug]

I tried shaving the bushing on both sides. only one hole line up the other almost impossible. I tried the ball joint in the knuckle, then slide the control arm onto the strut rod, then wiggle it into the tabs on the frame. still same problem. I can insert little thinner bolt than this thick bolt came with moog control arm. By inserting a little thinner than this will be dangerous and alignment will disturb.? May be the problem is Moog(problem solver) control arm. may be motor craft can fit?

Please help me I spend all day.

Thanks a lot for help.

Doug

 

[Lgbpop]

If the LCA end can fit into the bracket, the holes have to line up eventually. First things first, make sure the bolt you want to use goes through both holes in the subframe bracket. Also, make sure both forks of the bracket are parallel to one another! You could have bent one, hard as it is to do, while removing the old LCA. After that, it's just a question of alignment. Using a smaller-diameter bolt will allow the LCA to wobble and make alignment difficult.

 

[Doug]

The Moog LCA ends can fit into the frame bracket, the holes are line up with bushing holes and thick bolt came with moog lca fits also when I have not slide strut rod. When I slide the strut rod on LCA than holes of frame bracket do not line up.
What to do next.

Thanks

 

[Lgbpop]

The Moog LCA ends can fit into the frame bracket, the holes are line up with bushing holes and thick bolt came with moog lca fits also when I have not slide strut rod. When I slide the strut rod on LCA than holes of frame bracket do not line up.
What to do next.

Thanks

Think; analyze; and solve the problem. If they don't line up, perhaps it's not going all the way into the bracket? Awfully hard to tell, since you are there; we are NOT; and you haven't posted one single photo to help us help you.