OK,

I went to get my truck inspected today and it passed emissions fine, but my passenger side upper ball joint needs to be replaced. Upon further investigation I realized that I have two different control arms. The driver side has no adjustment on it, and the passenger side is an adjustable control arm. Is this normal or was the driver side replaced? I think it might have been in a fender bender on the driverside front? Would having two different control arms make it impossible to get aligned.

The guy said he couldn't align it, and I'm not sure if it's because of the ball joint or because of the two different control arms?

Thanks,

Tim

 

has nothing to do with the control arms 1998-2004 had the adjustable on the passenger side only driver never got the adjustable arm.

usually they wont align something with a bad ball joint...

 

Good info right there dude. It's definitely because of the balljoint then. Why would they only have the passenger side an adjustable control arm? Where did you find out that 98-04 had this?

Thanks,

Tim

 

my 03 has the normal no adjustable arms on both sides, so not all of them have it.

 

When I had to replace mine I had the choice of adjustable or not... I don't remember which one i got tho! lol

 

The place I brought it to said I need to replace the upper control arm too along with the balljoint, which doesn't make sense to me. Why would the arm be bad? If I just replace the worn balljoint, I should be able to align the truck right? Reason is they want 350 for the upper arm and balljoint replaced.

Thanks,

Tim

 

did you buy it new. because you can replace it with a one piece

 

stock ball joints are one with the arm they can not be pressed out. where as moog ball joints after you buy the moog arm you can replace just the ball joint after the initial time

 

Be careful though. Not all moogs are that way. Most are same as stock. You have to get the moog "Problem Solvers." They cost a little more initially, but after that you can replace the ball joints for like $39 each.

 

When I buy a new arm, it will come with the balljoints already pressed in? It would be nice if its unbolt old arm, bolt in new, and go for allignment.

Can you direct me to somewhere that sells the moog setup, I am looking around online right now.

Thanks,

Tim

 

yep thats how it is...


RockAuto Auto Parts

 

RAYBESTOS Part # 5001090 {Professional Grade}
Front Suspension; Right Upper; Front Torsion Bar Suspension; Adjustable Arm With Ball Joint

^Pretty sure that's what I need right? I should obviously stick with the adjustable arm since that is what's on there now. Only 88 bucks, beats the 350 installed.

-Tim

 

Its actually 98-02 that had the two piece arm on the passenger side.

 

The two piece and one piece are interchangeable, I have my old 01 wo piece Moogs on my wife's 04....

That said, Moog is not the only one that makes arms that can have the ball joint replaced. I know the Mevotch can, though I belive they are just cheaper Moogs based on part numbers (-80012 IIRC)

 

I know for sure some '04's had em too.

 

My '02 has a one piece non-adjustable pass side control arm. My parents were the original owners of the truck, so I know it is factory. Go figure. I have the coil spring suspension FWIW.

I can't remember which one my '01 had.

 

98+ coil Ranger and 98+ torsion bar Ranger take a different set of control arms. They are not interchangeable.

98~present Coil spring trucks have had 1-piece upper control arms on both sides from the beginning.

98~early 2003 torsion bar Rangers (4x4, Trailhead and Edge) had the 2-piece PS design. Ford changed from the 2-piece PS UCA to the 1-piece UCA in mid 2003MY production. OEM Ford production and replacement Ranger torsion bar UCAs are now all 1-piece, PS and DS.

 

There are 04's with the two piece. I've seen at least three.

 

Well I swapped it out today with another two piece designed one. Took all of a half hour. I'll go in early next week and hopefully they'll be able to align it and pass me for inspection now.

 

Ya Bob bills 04 level ii had 2 peice

 

yep my truck was the same way untill i changed the arm out the replacement one dosent have the adjustments

 

I bought my 03 Level II new and it had the 1-piece arms on both sides.

 

Sorry for bumping an old thread but I saw no reason to create another one.


What's the advantage of a two piece passenger side upper control arm? Why is the added adjustability needed? Why do they still offer one and two piece arms if it's ok to switch to a one piece? I saw they offered both kinds on Rockauto..


GB :)

 

The 2-piece PS design was originally for an alignment adjustment called "caster split". All OE Ford production and replacement Ranger UCA's are now one piece, right and left, so it is definitely OK to substitute the one piece RH UCA for an original two piece RH UCA.

 

Thanks Bob. I like to learn a little more about these types of things rather than just buy a new "updated" part right off the bat. I think you got that last part backwards though.






I just went through your V8 swap thread for the second time. Dats sum good readin!



GB :)