Control Arm Bushing - Front Upper

Replace the front upper control arm bushings on a 1972 Ford F-100 with 302ci V8. This procedure involves removing the upper control arm from the frame to press out old bushings and install new ones.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front upper control arm bushing kit (2 bushings per arm) × 2 — Moog K6136 or equivalent
• Upper ball joint castle nut (if damaged) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Cotter pin (1/8" x 1.5") × 1 — Standard hardware

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and apply parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
4. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands under the frame rails
5. Remove front wheel on side being serviced
6. Spray all control arm fasteners with penetrating oil and allow to soak

Procedure

1. 1

   Mark alignment cam position
   Using a scribe or paint marker, mark the position of the upper control arm shaft alignment cams relative to the frame mounting bracket. This will help preserve the existing caster and camber settings during reassembly.
2. 2

   Support lower control arm
   Position a floor jack under the lower control arm near the spring seat to support the weight of the suspension. Raise jack just enough to take the load off the upper ball joint, but do not lift the vehicle. This prevents the coil spring from extending when the upper arm is disconnected.
3. 3

   Remove upper ball joint castle nut
   Remove the cotter pin from the upper ball joint castle nut. Using a 13/16" socket, remove the castle nut from the ball joint stud. Do not reuse the cotter pin.
4. 4

   Separate upper ball joint from spindle
   Using a ball joint separator or pickle fork, separate the upper ball joint stud from the steering knuckle. Insert the tool between the knuckle and control arm, and strike firmly with a hammer until the taper releases. The knuckle will drop down onto the lower control arm once released.
5. 5

   Remove upper control arm shaft nuts
   Locate the two bolts that secure the upper control arm shaft to the frame bracket. These pass through the frame from front to rear. Using a 9/16" wrench to hold the bolt head on the outer side, remove both 9/16" nuts from the inner side of the frame with a socket. Remove the bolts and note the position of any shims or alignment cams.
6. 6

   Remove upper control arm
   Carefully maneuver the upper control arm assembly out from between the frame bracket and shock tower. The arm, shaft, and bushings will come out as a complete assembly. Inspect the control arm for cracks, bends, or other damage while removed.
7. 7

   Press out old bushings
   Using a hydraulic press or portable ball joint press with appropriate bushing adapters, press the old bushings out of the control arm shaft. Press from the center of the shaft outward, removing one bushing at a time. Clean the shaft bore thoroughly with a wire brush to remove rust, old rubber, and debris.
8. 8

   Install new bushings
   Lubricate the new bushing outer shells with soapy water or the lubricant provided in the bushing kit. Position the first bushing at one end of the control arm shaft. Using the hydraulic press with the correct adapter, press the bushing into the shaft bore until it is fully seated and flush with the edge of the arm. Repeat for the second bushing on the opposite side. Ensure bushings are pressed in straight and seated completely.
9. 9

   Reinstall control arm to frame
   Position the control arm assembly back into the frame bracket, aligning the shaft with the mounting holes. Insert both mounting bolts from the outer side of the frame, ensuring any alignment cams or shims are positioned according to the marks made during disassembly. Thread both nuts onto the bolts hand-tight but do not fully torque yet.
10. 10

    Connect ball joint to spindle
    Raise the floor jack under the lower control arm to lift the steering knuckle up to the upper ball joint stud. Guide the ball joint stud through the hole in the knuckle. Install the castle nut and tighten to specification (typically 75-85 ft-lb for this application). Align the castle nut slots with the ball joint stud hole and install a new cotter pin. Bend the cotter pin ends to secure.
11. 11

    Torque control arm mounting fasteners
    With the vehicle weight supported on the jack stands (suspension at ride height position), torque the upper control arm shaft mounting nuts to specification (typically 85-100 ft-lb for this application). The bushings must be torqued at ride height to prevent premature bushing failure from pre-loading.
12. 12

    Install wheel and lower vehicle
    Reinstall the wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle to the ground and remove jack stands. Torque wheel lug nuts to 100 ft-lb in a star pattern with the vehicle on the ground.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification before driving
2. New bushings may cause slight changes in ride height or handling for the first 50-100 miles as they settle
3. If both sides were serviced, verify alignment marks were followed to minimize alignment changes

Verification

• Check that upper ball joint castle nut is properly torqued and cotter pin is installed
• Verify control arm moves smoothly through its full range of suspension travel without binding
• Inspect for any interference between control arm and frame or other components
• Test drive vehicle at low speed to verify no unusual noises or handling issues
• Schedule a professional wheel alignment within 50 miles of completing this repair

More procedures for this vehicle