DIY - Replace Rear Upper Control Arms (Track Arms)

[CJ_Boxster]

7) Now unbolt these by using a 18mm ratchet socket and 21mm closed end wrench as pictured below. FYI- Never hit a ratchet with a hammer... the internals will shatter.



8) After the 18mm bolt and 21mm nut are removed, Use your 18 mm ratchet socket to remove the 18mm bolt that holds the Rear Control Arm to the chasis. FYI- Its very very tight, try holding the ratchet on the bolt and sliding the closed-end of your 21mm wrench over the handle of the ratchet, Hold it firmly so the socket doesnt slip off the bolt and manage to get your foot on the wrench holding the ratchet and pull or push (depending on drivers side or passenger side Control Arm) until the 18mm bolt loosens enough so that you dont require the leverage of the wrench attached to the ratchet.



9) Once the 18mm bolt is removed, Slide the control arm out of the car. (Install in reverse order if replacing with OEM Control Arms, torque both bolts to 160NM / 118lb-ft. If installing Adjustables...Proceed to read rest of directions)...

Now place old control arm and new adjustable Control Arm side by side and slide one of the 18mm bolts through the Bearing Cartridge of the adjustable Control arm and into the Fork-End of the OEM Control Arm. Rotate the Adjustment bar on the Control arm until the other end of the Control Arm bolt holes light up perfectly. Once they line up, slide other other 18mm bolt through the other end to keep them from rotating anymore and make any other adjustments as needed.





10) Now tighten the Adjustment Lock Nut on the the Bearing Cartridge side of the Adjustable Control Arm AS TIGHT AS YOU CAN to prevent it from loosening. If it loosens, it wont fall off but it will rattle and you will have to remove the entire Control Arm and re-tighten the Adjustment Lock Nut again. DO NOT tighten the Lock Nut on the FORK-END. Also rotate the Bearing Cartridge in the same angle that the OEM was while still in the car like so.
(FYI The Adjustment nuts are larger than 1inch wrench so I used 2 Vise Grip Pliers to tighten the nut.)

[CJ_Boxster]

11) Now slide the Adjustable Control Arm into place by first aligning the Bearing Cartridge side first and screwing the 18mm bolt in only 4 turns. Now Slide the Fork-End over the mounting point and align it with the bolt hole. FYI- If the Fork-End appears to be too far back or forward, Remove the 18mm bolt from the Bearing-Side and Remove the arm and rotate the Fork-End in half turn intervals and re-install and repeat as needed until the Fork End is very close to perfect.

If needed, You may slide a screw driver into the hole to align the holes to better install the 18mm bolt.



12) Once the bolt is through the Fork-End, Install the 21mm nut and snug down the bolt, Dont torque it yet.

13) Use your Ratchet to tighten the 18mm bolt that is holding the Bearing-End of the Control Arm to the Chasis. Get it as close as you can to 160NM / 118lb-ft of torque with your ratchet cause you cannot get a torque wrench in that confined area.

14) Now using your 21mm closed wrench and 18mm socket on a torque wrench, tighten the bolt to 160NM / 118lb-ft of torque.



15) Now tighten the adjustment nut on the Fork-End of the Control Arm as tight as you can without having the Vise Grip Pliers slip off.

16) Now reinstall the Plastic Cover and its 2 plastic nuts and Place the Guide Rod back in the Top Lug Hole & Reinstall the Wheel with 130NM of torque on the lug bolts.





Now go for a drive and enjoy the sound of the other noises you have in your interior like rattling windstop, dash rattles, leaf in your ventalation system and convertible top rattles

[blinkwatt]

That looks like it was a major P.I.T.A.,good write-up.

[CJ_Boxster]

Originally Posted by blinkwatt

That looks like it was a major P.I.T.A.,good write-up.

Actually isnt, Took me 1 hour 30 minutes on the drivers side and 1 hour on the passenger side. The directions make it seem alittle overwhelming cause Its alot of direction but only to make certain that the DIY'er does not run into ANY snags along the way.

[blinkwatt]

The Bentley version of installing/removing the control arm is choppy at best. I'm still a little fuzzy on how to install the bushing side. Not that I need to do it,but knowledge is power. Do you have any pics of how you used the vice grip pliers?

[CJ_Boxster]

Originally Posted by blinkwatt

Do you have any pics of how you used the vice grip pliers?

Oh sorry, Like this....

What are your thoughts on the ride now? Would this help prevent wheel hop when trying to do a burnout? Or was it just that it was squeeking?

[CJ_Boxster]

The Feel of the rear end is now very solid and doesnt feel as sloppy as it did before the replacement, Of course the clacking and rattles in the rear end are gone. I have yet to do a burnout or donut... I didnt get wheel hop before the install, If the Original bearing Cartridge has ALOT of play then i can understand see how you would experience wheel hop, but mine were only worn just a tad, only enough to have bad rattling noise in the warm temps and nearly no noise during colder temps. But all in all I love it.

[CJ_Boxster]

Originally Posted by boggtown

What are your thoughts on the ride now? Would this help prevent wheel hop when trying to do a burnout? Or was it just that it was squeeking?

Hey, i know people frown upon burnouts, but the nite installed the control arms, i did a burnout infront of my friends house, It was great, Rpms were at about 4500 when i popped the clutch, then the wheels broke traction and then i was at WOT and the RPMs pegged at 6000 rpms and the car went forward all the way to the end of the block wheels spinning till the end of the block and the front end up like a speed boat. It was great... cant wait for a track day.