Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Suspension bent rear control arm

I know this happens often, but this time it happened to me. My steering wheel has been vibrating when I get anywhere from 60-80 most of the time. So I figure I'll get the balance checked out. I do, and the guy says, "have you seen this?" I look and the driver's side rear control arm is bowed out a little. They said that could be my problem and I'm beginning to think so. They still balanced the wheels and I went on the freeway and it is still doing it. So would this cause the vibrations? What can be done to prevent this from happening again, anything? Is it as easy to replace as it looks? I'll try Bill Jenkins but I hope this is not too expensive, any estimates? The funny part, I don't know why I say funny, is that the guy started just swinging away at it with a mallet trying to bend it back in place. I hope he didn't mess anything else up doing that, I was just sitting there in shock trying to figure out if he was really doing that.

Ok, good news for me. I looked at Bill Jenkins' catalog and it is only like $25. Wooo! Good stuff! Now my question is, because the dealership asked me almost the same thing, which one is it? On the catalog it has a front lower and rear lower listed. then the dealership asked if it was something or something. I don't remember. But either source has 2 different parts listed. It is the main beam that goes from the bottom of the strut to the middle of the car. I thought it was called the rear control arm and that was it. Does anybody know what this is specifically called? Thanx.

nobody?

Looking under the rearend you will see two "bars" going from the knuckle to the rear crossmember. the one towards the front of the car is the front lower arm, damn I'm a genius, and the one toward the rear of the car is the rear lower. The rear one is the one I would think is most susceptible to bending.

I don't see the whole hassle in this, why don't they just call it the drivers and passenger side rear control arm?! Stupid Ford. On a serious note though, the dealership said something completely different like flat or something or rather. I guess I'll just go in and have them print me a diagram so I can point and go " that one, that one!" The dealer price is only $10 more than Bill Jenkins and that will probably be incurred in shipping from Nevada. Plus I'll have it the same day. The question though is still, will this cause a vibration like my wheels are out of balance? I had been hearing a pop from that area when I went up driveways and hills and now I know exactly what it is. That's a relief, in a way.

here you go man

if you need the front lower control arms i have them in my garage brand new.

yup it's the rear one. thanx. The front ones actually bend?! They look pretty tough. Yeah mine is the thin one that is labeled rear. I hope that's the easier one to install.

Well i finally found my Haynes manual and it has an exploded view of it also. It also says basically, what I thought, it's easy to replace. But with the alignment part and those bolts being horrible, I think i'll just drop it to my friend at Goodyear, he can get me like the same price on that part (about 25), then go ahead and align it for me. Is it okay to wait until after Christmas to do it? I assume so, it's not a MAJOR problem, I'll just stay over 80 on the freeway until then...

The rear ones are easy to replace. About as anything you'll ever do on a contour. And if you beat the crooked ones until they're straight, that seems to be okay too. The front ones are a totally different issue. You have to drop the subframe to get those things out.

yea rear ones are easy to replace. Bout 20 min job. dare i say its easier than changing the oil filter..