Replacing lower control arm brackets

[gmcman]

Overall not a difficult job, keep in mind you will need an alignment afterwards so plan accordingly. I don't have a lot of pics but I would like to make a point that it's far easier to lower the entire sway bar using the two large bushings in the front of the frame than to loosen a sway bar link.

I recently installed the MOOG sway bar links and both the nuts jammed up when removing and now I have a trashed LH link. After I snapped my 5MM hex socket, I had to pry the boot and use vice grips on the nut which is just barely smaller than 18MM as well as a thin head so not much to grab on to. The first nut was all that was needed for the job but since there was no way I as going to try to re-tighten that nut, I decided to replace the link and the second nut acted the same way.

The large rear bushings were badly worn, I was surprised at how much play they had and still drove straight with hardly any indications they they were worn.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

I am going to do the brackets an full arms this spring.

 

[gmcman]

Well, so much for the pics, I managed to delete all my cell pics. However the front end feels like new again, no more creaks or odd noises over bumps...very solid feel.

I replaced the upper control arms a short time ago and that helped but the lowers were the ticket.

I loosened the 2 upper strut mount bolts a few turns to ensure there was no spring tension, supported frame with front suspension hanging, removed bolts from each of the large sway bar bushings in the front of the frame, not the links, and let the bar hang down.

Removed both lower control arm to bracket bolts, used pry bar to get the lower control arm under the frame. Removed all 3 bracket bolts then removed bracket.

You will need to pry on the bracket a little to get it out but not difficult. Make a note how close the bracket is to the frame so you can get it back as close as possible.

Torque the front bolt of the bracket to 195 foot pounds and each of the 2 rear bolts to 177 foot pounds. Both lower control arm to bracket bolts are 96 foot pounds.

You will need an alignment afterwards.

 

[jes1888]

what size is the bolt holding the brackets, or where to buy them? I lost one apparently due to not applying the right torque. Thanks fora very informative thread!

 

[gmcman]

what size is the bolt holding the brackets, or where to buy them? I lost one apparently due to not applying the right torque. Thanks fora very informative thread!

Pretty sure it's a 21mm bolt. As mentioned in the other thread....I would get it from the dealer.