Replacing upper suspension arms

ales · #1 03-04-2002, 08:48 AM

The bushings are worn in my car, so I need to replace the upper control arms. Has any of you done it yourself? Was it hard?

Strangely, my service manual doesn't cover the removing / installing of upper ars, so I will need some help here. Doesn't seem too hard, though. I should remove 4 bolts (or were these nuts?) that are attached to the bory, then remove the nuts that hold it to the middle link and then replace it. Right? Right? Right right?

I could have a shop do this for me, but I really want to try it on my own. Have to start somewhere...

Any help / hints / tips are appreciated,

Alex

paradyme · #2 03-04-2002, 09:31 AM

Check out this link, I wil be replacing mine this week end but I'm having it done professionally along with my entire front axle. GOOD LUCK!
http://www.se-r.net/suspension/control_arm/index.html

P10DET · #3 03-04-2002, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ales
The bushings are worn in my car, so I need to replace the upper control arms. Has any of you done it yourself? Was it hard?

Strangely, my service manual doesn't cover the removing / installing of upper ars, so I will need some help here. Doesn't seem too hard, though. I should remove 4 bolts (or were these nuts?) that are attached to the bory, then remove the nuts that hold it to the middle link and then replace it. Right? Right? Right right?

I could have a shop do this for me, but I really want to try it on my own. Have to start somewhere...

Any help / hints / tips are appreciated,

Alex

I think you have it pretty well. It's simple. Nothing to align. Undo the four nuts, remove the bolts. Remove the upper link. Installation is the reverse.

You can do this yourself just fine.

G-Forces · #4 03-04-2002, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by P10DET

You can do this yourself just fine.

You'll need a 17mm socket and wrench (IIRC) But it really helps if you can get your hands on a 2 foot 'swivel head' or sometimes called a breaker bar. Those upper link bolts are on there tight!

ales · #5 03-04-2002, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by G-Forces

You'll need a 17mm socket and wrench (IIRC) But it really helps if you can get your hands on a 2 foot 'swivel head' or sometimes called a breaker bar. Those upper link bolts are on there tight!

I have a big torque wrench

And smaller wrenches and a reall BFH!

Thanks everyone. Will deal with it in the nearest future.

nismo_gt · #6 03-04-2002, 02:08 PM

You should be able to buy a bush replacement kit for the
link arms, you'll have to get someone to press the bushes,but
their alot cheaper to buy.
Here in the UK, 2 link arms were about £250 but all bushes were just £34
So might be worth checkin ?

ales · #7 03-04-2002, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nismo_gt
You should be able to buy a bush replacement kit for the
link arms, you'll have to get someone to press the bushes,but
their alot cheaper to buy.
Here in the UK, 2 link arms were about £250 but all bushes were just £34
So might be worth checkin ?

I actually tried that. They just don't sell them. I haven't asked that from the dealership, though. Do you think they will have them there?

How many bushings are there in one arm? Two or four?

ales · #8 03-05-2002, 10:49 AM

Bought new control arms today. damn, the genuine Nissan cost 4 times more than the non-genuine ones! So guess what I got?

As for buying bushings separately, the guys at the dealership said that the probably could get them for me, BUT it won't be of no use for me as I won't be able to put them in (they tried and couldn't do it). Is that a load of BS? If so, what's the catch?

nismo_gt · #9 03-05-2002, 01:13 PM

There are 4 bushes in each arm, they are a bit tricky to fit
but if youve got access to a press then its not too bad
Sounds like u got a good deal anyway & now you haven't got the bother of doing it !

gthang · #10 03-09-2002, 07:16 PM

There seems to be some confusion here about what part is being talked about here.

I see links to replace control arms:
http://www.se-r.net/suspension/control_arm/index.html

and advice on how to remove the upper link (I'm using the official term used in the service manual.) If you're talking about replacing the upper link, here's what you got to do.

Unbolt the 4 bolts holding the bracket to the body of the car. They are tight so wd40 them and use breaker bars.

Then unbolt the other end that connects to the "third link."

After that, you may need some help from another individual as the bolt that holds the upper link to the bracket is rather tight. You'll need an opposing force on the nut. Same too when you tighten it back up to the torque specified in the FSM.

That's pretty much it. It didn't really cure my alignment problems but I'll probably try to replace the control arms next. If anybody knows where to get one control arm cheap, let me know.

ales · #11 03-10-2002, 01:10 AM

Guys, I've replaced them, and have pictures. I can do a little writeup and if Brian or Jason are interested, they can put it on G20.net

paradyme · #12 03-10-2002, 11:09 PM

You can get control arms for the P10 from www.thepartsbin.com
I just purchased a set and had them installed.
:flash:

gthang · #13 03-10-2002, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ales
Guys, I've replaced them, and have pictures. I can do a little writeup and if Brian or Jason are interested, they can put it on G20.net

So how did it work? Did it fix your alignment problems? Did you have to tear your boot? Where did you buy your arm from? How much?

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