A question about rear rear control arms

[niowa98eb]

So today I got under my Expy and noticed my driver side rear control arm is in bad shape. Has anyone bought the cheaper ones off of ebay not the PMT ones but the ones for less than $200? I don't really want to drop a ton of money on these cause I need shocks and a few other things and was wondering if I could safely save a few bucks by getting these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1998...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[toms89]

I purchased these several months ago.

http://www.pmtfabrication.com/Products/88-97-02-ford-expedition-navigator-rear-trailing-arms.aspx

These are very nice control arms with grease fittings.

The ones in your link appear to be knock off versions of the same thing. While there is some risk not purchasing from a reputable company the Ebay seller does have all good feedback and no complaints that I seen.

 

[JDMitchell]

The set in your link look very similar to the uppers that I bought. They might be Moroso.

I paid $179 for a set through ebay that were made by Moroso. They are excellent quality, but I can't find them now. Maybe if you do some research you can find a set (I bought mine from this user)

http://myworld.ebay.com/sillybeef59/

 

[bsamc2000]

Those look good. I see they offer the uppers for $185 as well. I think I might just purchase the set. My lowers are rusting away do to the great Ohio weather and road salt.

 

[Remo]

If you buy them, let us know what you think of them. I'm sure a lot of us with first gen trucks are due for replacements.

 

[niowa98eb]

I'll probably buy them next week and will post what there like after install. Any suggestions on front and rear shocks? 98 EB 4x4 standard suspension.

 

[2000eb]

i have been debating on pullin mine off measuring them and making custom ones. mine are rusted almost all the way through

 

[JDMitchell]

i have been debating on pullin mine off measuring them and making custom ones. mine are rusted almost all the way through

Be advised that making your own will end up costing as much or more than just buying some that are already made, unless you have a welder to hook you up. I had well over $200 invested in my lowers that I had made after buying the DOM tubing, polyurethane bushings, and other misc stuff. Add in the cost of paying someone to weld them up and it will be pretty expensive. I got mine welded up for free at the local VoTech.

Hindsight being 20/20 I should have just bought uppers and lowers from the seller on eBay and I would have only spent about $350 instead of around $500 for the pre-made uppers and buying everything to make my own lowers and track bar. DOM tubing isn't cheap!

 

[2000eb]

i have a steel store a couple miles from my house i looked at some thick rectangular stock and it cheap just gotta buy it in 10 foot lengths lol and i have been welding for years on my own stuff. i guarantee i can make it a hell of alot stronger then the stock ones my biggest expense will be the new bushings

 

[Thermo]

Just a side note to those looking to replace their upper control arms, you are going to be complaining a little bit about the upper drivers side bolt at the frame. Atleast on the 97's, they mounted the bolt from the inside out. Where this becomes a problem is that the gas tank is in the way to prevent you from pulling the bolt out. In my case, what I did was grabbed a sawzall and cut the head of the bolt off and then had a new bolt to put into its place. So, you may want to take a look and see if Ford changed how they were doing that joint. The other option (assuming you don't want to cut the bolt) is to drop the gas tank out of the way. Not a big deal, but does add about an hour to the job. your option.

 

[2000eb]

i will have to look at my 2000 and check, i have heard people complaining bout that in the past

 

[JDMitchell]

i have a steel store a couple miles from my house i looked at some thick rectangular stock and it cheap just gotta buy it in 10 foot lengths lol and i have been welding for years on my own stuff. i guarantee i can make it a hell of alot stronger then the stock ones my biggest expense will be the new bushings

I had to buy 10 foot lengths also. Just make sure the metal you buy will be strong enough, I used bullet proof DOM tubing (1-3/4 OD x .250 wall x 1.25 ID) and it was not cheap. But there was a suggestion for me to use schedule 40 tubing which I didn't trust since I take my kids in the Expy and I didn't want skimp on such an important piece for the rear suspension.

i will have to look at my 2000 and check, i have heard people complaining bout that in the past

I think the bolts on the drivers side were the same on all the 97-03 Expys. I know I had to cut mine, I didn't want to re-use the stock bolts anyway.

 

[2000eb]

the strength should not be a problem look at what it came with stock, mine is almost gone because of the rust and i have caught air more then once in my expy.

 

[niowa98eb]

Had I not quit my job in February I would have ordered a set and taken measurements, sent them back and made a set on my own. I was a welder for 12 years and welded everything from aluminum to stainless steel. The only cost it would have been the bushings and shipping. I might have to talk to my old boss and see if he will let me in on a weekend to make them if I give him the plans for them since he also has an Expedition also.

 

[JDMitchell]

the strength should not be a problem look at what it came with stock, mine is almost gone because of the rust and i have caught air more then once in my expy.

I KNOW the strength of my trailing arms is way above what I will ever put my Expy through......... that was the point. I don't ever want to worry about my axle rolling up and breaking a driveshaft from using something that should be good enough. YMMV.


Just my 2 cents.

 

[98EXPY 5-0]

I lucked out and found a good set on a truck at the junk yard. Cost me $100 and they yard pulled them off and gave me the bolts. I did have to cut that one bolt off. Before I put the "new" ones on, I took a wire brush to them and sprayed several coats of that "turns rust into black primer" stuff on them. I probably won't have the truck long enough for them to rot out again. They should be good for a couple years anyway.

 

[imported_homer169]

I just purchased and installed a set from ebay and I am happy with them so far. I did manage to get the bolt by the gas tank out without cutting it, but it did take some time. If you do put at set of rear lower arms on, don't jack the truck up. The new ones are an inch longer than the stock ones, and by leaving the truck on the ground, you can twist the tire back and forth to help get the second bolt in the hole.