Adjustable Upper Control Arm?

[chippy_69]

need some help on this one, just home from the parts store with all the goodies for the four ball joints and front brakes. i have a 2003 FX4 lv2. when i took off the psg/right tire and compared the upper control arms (apparently the only way to change upper ball joints) i have a NEW one piece unit, and the one i want to replace is a 2 piece adjustable unit? i got a vague answer elsewhere but is this compatable/upgrade/new way to go? i was pretty surprised bc, the driver side is all one piece and not at all like the psg side.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Ford did away with the 2 piece upper control arm, you can replace it with the one piece unit without problems.

You will need eccentrics installed and an alignment afterward.

 

[srteach]

MOOG has a replacement for the original ball joint piece on the 2 piece side. Keeping the 2 piece allows better adjustability for a proper alignment.

Yes, Ford did away with the 2 piece upper and it can be changed to a 1 piece.

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

MOOG has a replacement for the original ball joint piece on the 2 piece side. Keeping the 2 piece allows better adjustability for a proper alignment.

Yes, Ford did away with the 2 piece upper and it can be changed to a 1 piece.

I've been under the impression for a couple years now that moog has since discontinued the passenger side 2-piece UCA. I even tried to order it and was sent the '03+ style 1-piece. I did the better looking and way more available 1 piece swap a few years back when I did all the BJ's.

 

[chippy_69]

dammit.....seems to be the way my luck goes.
I found the 'ball joint half' replacement, $80 more!!!
wish i had known the one piece would of done the trick...

 

[Yellowsplash]

I just replaced both upper control arms on my '95 and '01 explorers. Moog still makes the 2-piece design for the passenger side, as well as an option for the 1-piece. Part number is K8708T (Drivers 1-piece) and K8710T (Pass 2-piece). If you want the passenger 1-piece, the part number is K80068...although I should add I dont see a reason on replacing the adjustable unit with a non-adjustable unit. You can find them at advance auto parts.

 

[kemo]

woah hold the phone... you CAN swap w/o a problem? What is all required to do it? I can't find the other piece of this upper control arm to save my life, as if it were non existent.

although I should add I dont see a reason on replacing the adjustable unit with a non-adjustable unit

Because there are tons of other vehicles on the road that are the same way. Plus, there is a TSB about it, last time I checked at least.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Simply install the one piece arm from the newer trucks. The only reason that is there is for the factory to set a caster split to compensate for road crown. This can still be done with the one piece arm and camber/caster eccentrics.

 

[Yellowsplash]

Which eccentrics are you referring to Sasquatch...I have a camber bolt and plate kit installed on the sport trac to help with camber after the TT, but was never able to find a way to adjust caster without having the 2-piece control arm.

The control arm is locked into position on that axis by the frame due to the mounts for the bushing being welded into the frame itself. The only possible way to adjust from this fixed position is on the other axis by pulling away from the frame to adjust for camber via the bolt and plate eccentrics kit. Ford was smart enough to cut a "slotted" hole to allow for camber adjustment, but supplied plates that were fixed to a certain position that didnt offer any adjustment, until of course you buy Moog Part #K8674 for up to 1 1/4* adjustment, or K80065 for up to 1 5/8* adjustment for $20-30 per side.

 

[kemo]

Which eccentrics are you referring to Sasquatch...I have a camber bolt and plate kit installed on the sport trac to help with camber after the TT, but was never able to find a way to adjust caster without having the 2-piece control arm.

Ford obviously found a way to make it work, because they got rid of that stupid 2 piece.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Which eccentrics are you referring to Sasquatch...I have a camber bolt and plate kit installed on the sport trac to help with camber after the TT, but was never able to find a way to adjust caster without having the 2-piece control arm.

They are camber/caster eccentrics, they look like this:

If you turn them both the same way (towards or away from the frame) you get your camber adjustment. If you adjust them opposite ways from each other (one towards the frame and one away from the frame) you get your caster adjustment. Pretty straight forward.

 

[Yellowsplash]

Doesnt seem that it would offer much range in adjustment in comparison to a 2-piece control arm...oh well. To each their own...

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

With my 05 sport trac that I had, I had no problems getting my caster spot on after cranking the torsion bars on it using the camber/caster eccentrics available from Ford.

Plus the arm only is on one side, not both. The reason is for setting caster split to compensate for road crown. This is easily obtainable with just the eccentrics. Pretty much every truck with an upper control arm (98+ rangers, 97-04 F150, pretty much all chevy pickups) are all like this.