Lower Control Arm Q

[wtx806]

If I replace the lower control arms, does it require an alignment afterwards?

 

[swathdiver]

If I replace the lower control arms, does it require an alignment afterwards?

Yes! It is SOP. New ball joints and bushings and the tie rods had to come off the knuckle...

 

[OR VietVet]

Any and every time you do suspension and/or steering work, you should have alignment at least checked and aligned as needed. If you do get aligned or checked, insist on a printout of the before and after readings and post that here, please.

By the way, if I have not said it, welcome to the forum.

If you are staying with a stock set up, please tell me you are replacing with Genuine GM or AC Delco and if is AC Delco, those parts are likely Moog anyway.

If is in need or close on the front brakes, is a perfect time for replacement.

 

[wtx806]

Any and every time you do suspension and/or steering work, you should have alignment at least checked and aligned as needed. If you do get aligned or checked, insist on a printout of the before and after readings and post that here, please.

By the way, if I have not said it, welcome to the forum.

If you are staying with a stock set up, please tell me you are replacing with Genuine GM or AC Delco and if is AC Delco, those parts are likely Moog anyway.

If is in need or close on the front brakes, is a perfect time for replacement.

Thank you. Yes, I try to replace with AC Delco professional when I change out. As an 03, 205k original owner z71, it is becoming more frequent on repairs. However, she has been a champ and have decided to keep her.

 

[OR VietVet]

Thank you. Yes, I try to replace with AC Delco professional when I change out. As an 03, 205k original owner z71, it is becoming more frequent on repairs. However, she has been a champ and have decided to keep her.

After all the preventative work I have done to my 2005 Z71, see my build thread, it would take a lot of money to pry the keys out of my hands. A recent 5500 mile trip in 15 days yielded absolutely no problems and made me love this rig even more. Your 03 will pay you back if you treat it right.

 

[rockola1971]

If I replace the lower control arms, does it require an alignment afterwards?

Yes. Your new control arms will have or need new bushings as well as a lower ball joint installed. The vehicle was previously aligned with the old bushings and ball joint so things have changed in the frontend now and a realignment will need to be done.

 

[Buggdave]

Doing the lower control arms is a beast of a job, but as others have said, if you are planning on keeping her, get good quality OEM parts. They pay for themselves in the long run. Your original ones lasted 200k. No reason my your replacements should not last that long as well.

 

[S33k3r]

Anyone look at Kryptonite? That seems to be the goto for the truck community, assuming deep pockets.

 

[rockola1971]

Doing the lower control arms is a beast of a job, but as others have said, if you are planning on keeping her, get good quality OEM parts. They pay for themselves in the long run. Your original ones lasted 200k. No reason my your replacements should not last that long as well.

Replacing the lower control arms isnt a tough job at all. Its the uppers that can be a total pain. Those eccentric bolts and nuts get frozen up enough to where you cant get them loose then the pain begins. On my Tahoe we just could not get them to loosen up. A torch didnt even help until we used the torch to cut them off.

My friend works on semis for a living and he taught me a quick n dirty trick on the control arm bushings that he does with semis (they are much bigger). If you are replacing the bushings but not the arms then just catch the old bushings on fire (once control arm is removed) and the bushings fall right out instead of wasting time knocking them out with a press. Then clean up melted rubber with a wire wheel and press new bushings in.

 

[MrMonte]

Anyone look at Kryptonite? That seems to be the goto for the truck community, assuming deep pockets.

My Son-in-law has the Kryptonite everything on his 2011 & loves them