Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Lower Control Arm

I am having a really bad weekend. Friday night driving down the road went to make a turn, took it to fast, hit ice, spun out and had the right front tire hit the curb. Changed the tire because it looked bent and drove it home. On the way home it was pulling ot the left, and there was a strange vibration when you started off, but as soon as you took your foot of the gas and reaplied it was gone. From a visual inspection the lower control arm is bent. My dad is good with cars and we have not had a chance to pull it into the garage yet, but i had a structural question about the car. Does any body know from the structure of this car, if when the lower control arm bends if anything on teh frame is at risk of being bent, or just other parts on the control arm. If it is jsut the control arm i will be happy because that is 55 dollars from ford, and a new rim is 80. Hopefully i can get away with just that.

-Greg

The control arm is bolted to the lower cradle/subframe, that the motor bolts to. You could possibly tweak the subframe, but it's a fairly stought stamping. The control arms are pretty weak on the tours. Especially the rear control arms, they bend if you look at them wrong. You prolly just need to replace the control arm, but I'd take a look at the cv's and drive shaft. Then get an alignment for sure and get the wheel checked out. Good luck to ya.

Welcome onboard.

At least you picked the side where the control arm is easier to replace. You will also want to check tie rod end, although that should be picked up when you get it aligned.

Update...

Jacked that car up tonight and gave it a look over. Here is what we found:

-Bent tie Rod at the threads where it connects to the short swivel

-Seems that one of the CV's is bad

-When turning the wheel it makes the engine lift up slightly, me and my dad think it is from the tension of the drive shaft.

Can anyone supply any input on these problems? Especial the tie rod, can it be replaced at the boot? Thanx

-Greg

Edit:
It looks like I am going to have to replace the right tie rod. From the Chilitons book I am lookign at, it looks like i have to drop the subframe to get to the rack to disconnect the old tie rod. Does anyone know an easier way, or is this the only way?

-Greg