ball joints or control arms

[napolitano]

I came into some trouble today when we were pulling my motor apart for some powdercoat work. We were taking the calipers off getting ready for the front sway bar install and noticed my ball joints were shot. Do you guys have any advice on a particular brand. Much help appreciated.

[Blackened300a]

I came into some trouble today when we were pulling my motor apart for some powdercoat work. We were taking the calipers off getting ready for the front sway bar install and noticed my ball joints were shot. Do you guys have any advice on a particular brand. Much help appreciated.

Moog greasable end links.

[Thomas C Potter]

I agree , Moog is good. I assume just your lowers are gone??

[napolitano]

Both upper and lower. I guess because the car sits for long periods of time, they just dryrot the boots and so on. Now I'll go with Moogs and silicone spray on the rubber pieces. Let me guess, Rockauto.com has the best prices. What is the differences between the forged ones and the stamped ones, which ones are better?

[Spectragod]

You don't need to replace the whole lower, you can press the lowers in.

[screamn]

Why doesn't Metco or Sparta make the front lower and upper control arm assemblies with the ball joints? :confused:

Inquiring minds would like to know....

I would be very interested if they did as I plan to purchase the rear lower and upper control arm assemblies from them...just gotta decide if I want the grease fitting ones from Metco or the non greaseable from Sparta.

[napolitano]

I think sparta sells metco control arms. Thanks for the help guys.

[Chevyguy]

Both upper and lower. I guess because the car sits for long periods of time, they just dryrot the boots and so on. Now I'll go with Moogs and silicone spray on the rubber pieces. Let me guess, Rockauto.com has the best prices. What is the differences between the forged ones and the stamped ones, which ones are better?

06? up had stamped vs the cast Aluminum arms.

Mostly a change for the police cars (which is most of the panther production at that point)

Don't be shocked if the Stamped arms won't fit a 03-04. Probably an obscure change in the bushing mount or some other change. Looks like one of the lower bushings may not come with the lower arm anyways

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q329/folingo/2004%20Marauder/Chassis%20and%20Engine%20pics/SL372063.jpg

[Blackened300a]

Why doesn't Metco or Sparta make the front lower and upper control arm assemblies with the ball joints? :confused:

Inquiring minds would like to know....

I would be very interested if they did as I plan to purchase the rear lower and upper control arm assemblies from them...just gotta decide if I want the grease fitting ones from Metco or the non greaseable from Sparta.

The front arms weren't cost effective to make a prototype and go into production. He tried this last year.


I think sparta sells metco control arms. Thanks for the help guys.

Sparta sells his own rear control arms made by CHE. Available in 6 colors and has poly/delrin bushings that never need to be greased.

[screamn]

Thanks Paul!

Makes sense everything cost $$.

[napolitano]

Alright guys. TRW is no longer available through auto parts stores. Talked to TRW this morning and they will be back in a consumer line in a year. I wanted to go with them for whole upper arm and just replace the lower ball joint with moogs greasable one. Now its between fighting the ford control arm with a moog ball joint or going with the mevotech ones from rockauto. What do you all think?

[MOTOWN]

I think moog makes better parts any how!

[cougar9150]

I haven't attempted pressing the ball joint in the upper arm but have heard it's a major pain. I originally ordered the Moog upper CAs when I did my suspension. The pic showed forged and when they arrived at my house the were stamped. I contacted Moog and they said that they manufactur the parts to whatever the current specs on the parts from Ford are.

In either 05 or 06 Ford swapped to the stamped arms on the panther platform and made those the standard replacement part for all 03 and up panthers.

The Mevotech ones were much beefer that the stock forged arm but the bushings were not aligned correctly. I had to take some measurements on the stock arms and press both the shock tower mount bushings in about a 1/4" or so. Make sure you reuse the caps that come off the bushings on the stock arms on your new arms.