In order to pass my state inspection, the garage told me I'd need new upper, lower ball joints, upper control arm, and wheel bearings replaced (2002 f150)... All for the bargain price of $1465.00.. I will refrain from sharing my thoughts of shoving each of the replaced parts up his.... anyhow, I've done lots of maintenance and repairs by finding info on here... SOOO I did it myself.. for $240. No pops, squeaks, or anything. All nuts tightened to Ford specs etc.. of course now I'm ready for inspection and it passed.. COOL!! right?.. yes.. until I was fool enough to let them align the front end and install new camber bolts. The moment my wife drives it from the garage she notices popping noise.. I took it back and they said it was the large spring that has warn bushings.. WTF?? Really??.. anyhow, after about a week or so, I finally had time to take a closer look. My brand new upper control arm is now sliding on the tube that holds the bushings .. left and right and its embarrassingly loud.. I'm so pissed that I could scream.. I'm thankful its Sunday.. 25 years of martial arts training would likely be my ticket to the pokey.. ok.. my question.. how does this happen?.. and is my control arm ruined?... My only guess is that they tightened the arm without the weight of the truck on the springs... Sorry bout my bad attitude.. the fact that they kept my trick overnight and didn't even bother to look at the terribly obvious source of the popping makes me see red.. thank you for any advice or pointers to correct this without breaking any necks!! lol

 

The way I am understanding is the pressed in bushings on the upper control arm are coming out? Could you provide any pics? It sounds like maybe the arm is faulty. I'm not really sure that they could have done that just by putting in the eccentrics. I did this job at least once a day for a year and a half and never saw anything like that.

 

Thank you for your reply. I think the most frustrating part is that when I called about the popping they asked me to bring it to them and they would look at it.. my 15 year old spotted the problem immediately.. I would think that a professional mechanic would find the issue just as easy.. I will post a pic tomorrow, but maybe I can explain a little better. Where the ends of the control arms meet the cylinder that squeezes in to the brackets that the bolt goes through.. That part actually slides with much resistance as the wheels are turned.. this sliding is more like a jumping motion.. but the warn spots are already visible on the cylinder from the arm sliding on it.. will post a pic tomorrow though.. again, thank you for your reply..

 

Is your truck a 4x4? Either way it sounds like your "bump stops" are worn out. They will make it "sag" and ride on the upper controll arm if the torsion bars are worn out or are turned down too far. Also if its a 4x4 check your CV joints. Hope I helped.

 

i mean i know its different in every state but you have to do all that to pass inspection? thats bs. they only check moniters by me.

 

Truck is not 4x4.. I took a couple pics. If they load properly, you will see black paint where the control arm is sliding to the left "shading" its path as the wheels turn.. this shot is from behind the front driver side tire as the wheel is in right turn position. Note, this sliding also occurs as I lower the Jack and the weight is being let down on the tire.. like its "stressing" it sort of reminds me of the EX sitting on my lap!!.. uuhhggg!.. hopefully someone gets a grin..

 

Lmao... looks like you got a defective part.

 

That is the issue indeed, that arm is junk. I don't see how it would be possible for them to have done that, but they should have def. noticed unless it only broke loose after you left. You should be able to return that arm for warranty wherever you bought it but then you will need another alignment

 

First get a new mechanic shop bvecause it sounds like they suck big time...lol second if you baught if from oreillys or advanced auto parts they will accept it as a defect and give you another one free

 

Thanks fellas... The fact that the last visit to the shop was FOR the allignment.. so I guess I'll exchange the arm.. and find another place to pay an allignment AGAIN!!... Any recomended franchise shops??.. my tailpipe is a bit wallered out from this private shop!