One piece upper control arm?

[bruker]

The upper ball joints on my `03 are getting bad so I've been looking at upper control arms. Some places are selling a one piece upper arm for the right side and others have the two piece section. Would using the one piece arm limit the ability to properly align the wheels?

 

[pjtoledo]

no. you do have to install the camber bolt/cam kit though.

 

[bruker]

I thought the stock control arm bolts already have that feature...

 

[don4331]

I thought the stock control arm bolts already have that feature...

Stock control arms on all the 98+ Rangers I have worked on have the camber bolt/cam. Now when you lift/lower your Ranger, they might not have adequate travel so you may need aftermarket ones.

The 2 piece control arm is used to adjust caster. Assuming Ford built your Ranger within tolerance/you haven't modified (lifted/lowered) your truck, you should be able to align it. Camber and toe-in/out being the much more important setting.

You will just be "stuck" with the caster as per manufactured.

 

[pjtoledo]

I thought the stock control arm bolts already have that feature...

nope. some came with squares that firmly locked the bolt between the end tabs on the frame mounts. the squares came in lots of "sizes", the hole would be a bit farther offset on each different one. Ford would set the upper arm at proper alignment, then choose the correct alignment square to lock in the alignment.

I'm thinking my 2005 had those squares. the '99 I recently dismantled had cams on the bolts, no idea if they were factory or aftermarket.

 

[bruker]

OK, I replaced the control arms yesterday and it went pretty smooth. Unfortunately there were no cam bolts or square washers. I marked the locations of the bolts and got everything back in pretty much the same place and the truck drives fine with no pulling to the side whatsoever. I'm getting new tire soon and will get it aligned but I'd like to get some camber bolt/cams in there before I get it aligned. I need to get two for each side, correct?

 

[pjtoledo]

most kits come with 2 sets, so you should get 2 kits. you want cams in each position for maximum adjust capability.