I have been reading posts on this site forever about the challenges of replacing control arms. What i dont understand however is whether or not the subframe has to be dropped in order to remove/install both 2 and 4 bolt control arms or not. I happen to have 2 bolt control arms, and it looks to me like i could just undo the two bolts and pull the control arm right out without dropping the subframe. Is this correct?
Thanks.

two ways about it

if you want to cut the bolts and install a new one upside down you will not have to drop the subframe

if you want to not cut the bolt and reuse it or replace with a new one installed the same way as the original you need to drop the subframe

3 of the 4 bolts will come out with ease (as long as they are not overly rusty). The 4th one is the one that will cause the trouble. The bolt with the issue is front drivers side one. You can get the nut off no prob, but when you try and get the bolt out it will touch the trans case with no hope of coming out.

At this point, you have 2 options:

1) Lower the subframe, remove the the old bolt, replace control arm and put a new bolt in pointing downwards as it was originally. Raise subframe etc and you are done.

2) Grab a Sawzall or equivalent and unleash your anger on the bolt, replace control arm, and put a new bolt in pointing upwards.

I opted for #2 without question.

thank you for clearing that up for me

Is there any reason you can't just put some sort of a locking nut & washer on the threaded end of the bolt, if you decide to install them upside down? Most people seem to worry about them coming unthreaded, but wouldn't that solve that problem?

Mark

I did that on my first Contour. Initally I was concerned, but I used a factory ny-lock nut and that sucker wasn't goin' anywhere. Just for insurance, I dinged the exposed thread of the bolt before I ground down the excess. Too much ridin' on it for me not to take extra precautions.

The factory both is a 10.9,12mm bolt.It's not going to break.If you are concerned about it coming unthreaded then buy a new bolt and nut from ford.The nut is,like stated before,a ny-loc nut.If that still isn't enough for you put blue thread locker on it for more insurance.Just a heads up,if you have a DMD you will have to cut out the front bolt on the pass. side also.If you want to replace the nuts and bolts shoot me a PM I work at a ford dealer,and I purchased all 4 of the bolts and nuts when I replaced my control arms.

I just removed the bolts....there was nothing in the way on the passenger side. On the driver side the tranny was only a slight annoyance but once it was rocked a little the bolt came right out.