96 Taurus Control arm Removal Help

Ive been working on this 96 taurus for a few days now, replacing wheel bearings, ball joints etc.. I need to replace the driver side front control arm and im having some issues removing it. The front Vertical bolt doesnt seem to have enough room to slide out far enough to pull the control arm out. I dont really want to remove the tranny mount that's in the way so if anyone has any suggestions let me know.

Welcome to the forum!

Unfortunately, the factory service manual doesn't suggest any special steps, it just says to remove the forward lower suspension arm mounting nut and bolt. May I ask why you need to replace the arm?

-Rod

control arm is bent, it needs to be replaced.

Unless there is a special trick to getting the bolt out far enough, then it appears the tranny mount needs to be loosened up and lifed so the bolt can be slid upwards further to clear the control arm bushing.

I wish I had one here so I could brainstorm with you. I've checked the FSM and an aftermarket repair manual and they both just say to remove the nut and bolt and make no mention of tricks. Sorry.

Hopefully someone else who's done this recently will reply.

-Rod

I am having the same problem. Did you figure this out? I cant seem to get the forward control arm bolt out, as the transmission is in the way. This is on a 98 with the 3.0.

ok, got all the bolts out. Now, Cannot get the front bushing to break free from inside the frame rail, to pull the arm out.

Do you have a long pry bar? Try prying between the frame rail and control arm. Be sure to grease up the surfaces of the bushing before reinstalling to help it slide into the frame rail.

-Rod

I have a 1998 Taurus wagon with the 3L OHV engine and automatic transmission, and the front bolt for the left lower control also won't come out. Also, the control arm was badly bent when my daughter hit a curb at an exit ramp after skidding on a patch of ice.
So, what exactly is the best way to remove the front lower control arm bolt without breaking anything? Should the transmision be raised or should front of the subframe be lowered? Either way something could go wrong without instructions from a Ford manual.
A badly bent control arm may not come out the same way an unbent arm would.

If you are removing a damaged control arm, can you cut any of it or the bolt? Especially with a damaged control arm, you should replace all of the bolts involved anyway. I wonder if the mount that the bolt and arm go to is also bent. If so, that will have to be corrected too and after being straightened out, the bolt will go back? When I have worked on the control arms, I've had to really yank them around, working against the rubber mount to get them to misalign enough to get the bolt completely past obstructions. I would have a seemingly harder time getting the bolt, the mount holes and the arm steel bushing to align, again, fighting the rubber bushing and the metal bushing to mount fit. Bottom line, ya gotta get a little more aggressive than you would think you should. It would be nice if tjs88xj (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/member.php?u=597712) could explain how he was able to remove the problem bolt.

For the 1998 Taurus wagon with the 3L OHV engine and automatic transmission, the two bolts must be removed which attach the left transmission mount to the subframe. A small hydralic jack was used to raise the transmission until it touched the battery mount located above the transmission. The front bolt for the lower control arm was removed and then the transmission was lowered.
Also, in 1998 there are two different lower control arms available. The diameter of the front bolt hole was changed to a larger hole after early 1998. From 1996 to early 1998 has the small hole and the left hand lower control arm part number is F8DZ-3079-AA.