Prying down lower suspension arm

[ian_uk1975]

Just wondering if there are any particular tips to get lower control arms low enough to remove ball joints or struts? I've always used body weight to lean on the lower arm (sometimes with another helper), but it's a faff and always takes a while.

Any particular tips? It's easy raising the LCA, but getting it lower is a right pain!

[finlo]

If you have spring compressors you can gain an inch or two that way.

[steveo3002]

have you tried a long pry bar

[ian_uk1975]

finlo said:

If you have spring compressors you can gain an inch or two that way.

Hmm, how would a spring compressor help?

[ian_uk1975]

steveo3002 said:

have you tried a long pry bar

Yeah, trouble is finding something to pry against and also the clearance from the pry bar to the ground... not a problem if the car's on a lift, but an issue when it's only on axle stands.

[finlo]

ian_uk1975 said:

Hmm, how would a spring compressor help?

By reducing the length of the strut.

[daveenty]

Last one I did I also used spring compressors to reduce the strut length which helped.

Still had to unbolt the anti roll bar from it though as I'm getting older and weaker. (Jeep WK)

[E-bmw]

^^^^ Wot 'e said.

ARB & spring compressor always does the trick for me.

[S0 What]

I do 4 to 6 lower arms a week and all i use is either a 24inch prybar or a 48 inch one, all done on a pair of axle stands, maybe 1 in 40 is a problem to find somewhere to pry against, usually fixed by removing some plastic shield somewhere, hitting the floor is solved by using a long crowbar with a steeper angle on the prying end and for the extream ones i have a 6ft solid weightlifting bar.

[smn159]

I used a ratchet strap when I did the ones on my V70 recently, something like this

[ian_uk1975]

Thanks for the tips... it's just one of those pain in the neck jobs that, whenever I'm faced with doing it, I always think there's got to be a better way!

[S1_RS]

If it's got a front arb make sure both sides are able to drop evenly otherwise you're fighting against it.

[SlimJim16v]

S1_RS said:

If it's got a front arb make sure both sides are able to drop evenly otherwise you're fighting against it.

Good tip, I learnt this the hard way.

The spring compressor one is clever too, not thought about that.

Edited by SlimJim16v on Wednesday 8th February 00:05

[colin_p]

A length of chain circling the lower arm / wishbone (secured with a shackle or what have you..) and then a long prybar between the chain and the arm / wishbone, obviously on the underside. You could use a ratchet strap also I suppose instead of chain.

Assuming you have a bit of chain it takes seconds to set up and to remove.

[Spangles]

http://www.drapertools.com/product/23251/Expert-Su...

[colin_p]

Spangles said:

http://www.drapertools.com/product/23251/Expert-Su...

Nice but a bit pricy for something most of us diy'ers would use once every few years.

The chain round the prybar method I described above works the same way but that draper one be a whole lot less scratchy.

[ian_uk1975]

Spangles said:

http://www.drapertools.com/product/23251/Expert-Su...

Good idea. This one is quite a bit cheaper...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271639591629

[kev b]

The chain or ratchet strap with a prybar or scaffold pole has always worked for me, sometimes use a block of wood to get more leverage.

Also if there is an anti roll bar attached then the opposite wheel should be off the ground.

[ian_uk1975]

kev b said:

The chain or ratchet strap with a prybar or scaffold pole has always worked for me, sometimes use a block of wood to get more leverage.

Also if there is an anti roll bar attached then the opposite wheel should be off the ground.

Yeah, sounds good. Also, I've only got 1 side jacked-up, so will jack the other side so the wheel is off the ground on that side, too.

[bearman68]

I find it useful to turn the wheel to its full extent, and open the lower joint (where the pinch bolt sits) with a cold chisel. I usually then lever it down with a combination of ideas mentioned - the scaffolding bar being the most common. I also sometimes put a stilson wrench on the bar and lever the lower arm that way. But there's better ideas on here, especially the ratchet straps I think.