First Gen Expedition Rear control arms

[Adventure 7]

Ok I have a first gen Expedition that needs new rear control arm both upper and lower ones . I tried to put new ones in but found out that some Expedition after a certain date had the bolts changed from 14mm to 16 mm bolts i read it was to make them strong and the fix for these was to have the holes drilled out ,bascally making them bigger .

Has anyone else heard of this ?
if so what drill bit did you use or any additional help with doing this help me

 

[craig sargood]

I have not seen this, I’ve switched mine a couple time for different upgraded ones. But if for some reason you needed to drill out, just go to Lowe’s/ home crappo and get a drill bit just slightly bigger and go to town, be sure to use some wd40 or something to keep drill bit lubed up.

 

[01ExpeditionXLT]

I didn't know about this design change, but my '01 uses the 16 mm x 2.0 x 90 mm type. I am currently involved in replacing the upper/lower trailing arms on mine due to corrosion.

I did have to cut the head off the driver side bolt on the lower arm in order to remove it since I didn't want to go through the hassle of dropping the fuel tank. Good times!! /s

Why they inserted the suspension bolts from inside the frame, prior to dropping in the fuel tank is beyond me...

 

[TobyU]

Ahh the fuel tank bolt!!
I sneaked mine out without damaging tank or moving it but stupid design.
GM did similar on lower control arms on front. Just did a lower that broke. (Poor weak backyard looking fabrication)
The rear bolt should have been put in the other direction.

 

[craig sargood]

If I were you guy, I’d upgrade to stronger ones, the stock ones are ****** and will rot out again if you live in rain/snow. Here are a few pictures of the ones I have.

 

[craig sargood]

I got them off eBay

 

[TobyU]

Same style I got of ebay just in shiny black with a big flag sticker on the side.

 

[craig sargood]

These upper arms have grease fittings in them, good stuff.