How to replace the upper control arms 2009-2014 Ford F-150

Chapter 1:

Open the hood

Step 1/1

Turn your engine off, set the parking brake, pull on the bonnet release handle, open the bonnet.

Chapter 2:

Measure

Step 1/1

Before lifting your vehicle, it is necessary to measure the distance between the centre of your wheel and the wheel arch. This will allow you to achieve an optimal tightening equipped elements in their initial position.

Chapter 3:

Lift the vehicle

Step 1/1

Loosen the stud bolts on the front wheels. Lift the front of your vehicle. Place the vehicle on the axle stands.

Chapter 4:

Take off the wheels

Step 1/1

To be able to replace the upper control arms on your vehicle, you need to remove the wheels to gain complete access to the suspension system. Don’t forget to put the wheels under the vehicle!

Chapter 5:

Remove the outer tie rod

Step 1/1

You can now see your car’s upper control arm, as well as the strut, the sway bar end link and the outer tie rod that need to be taken out in order to change the upper control arm. To do so, we recommend watching our video : “How to replace the outer tie rod Ford F-150?”

Chapter 6:

Remove the sway bar end link

Step 1/1

Disconnecting the sway bar end link from the sway bar is also necessary.

Chapter 7:

Remove the strut

Step 1/2

To gain access to the two bolts in the upper control arm silentblocs, it is necessary to remove the strut.

Chapter 7:

Step 2/2

For the removal of the three nuts holding the strut mount bearing, and the strut foot bolt, we advise you to watch our video : “How to replace the struts Ford F-150?”.

Chapter 8:

Remove the control arm ball joint

Step 1/4

You must then disassociate the upper control arm ball joint of the wheel knuckle Brush the upper control arm ball joint nut and spray it with penetrating oil. Tip: to avoid everything rotating when unscrewing, reinsert the outer tie rod into its knuckle without screwing it back in.

Chapter 8:

Step 2/4

Then release the ball joint with a breaker bar and a 21mm socket. Then remove the outer tie rod. Unscrew the ball joint nut with a ratchet without removing it completely. Disengage the ball joint from the knuckle hitting it with a hammer.

Chapter 8:

Step 3/4

Before removing the nut, it is necessary to support the lower control arm with a jack to prevent the wheel knuckle from falling. Once the whole is secured, finish unscrewing the nut.

Chapter 8:

Step 4/4

Lower the wheel knuckle slightly with the jack to disconnect the ball joint, to create the space needed to remove the strut.

Chapter 9:

Remove the upper control arm

Step 1/5

Using a crowbar, release the strut foot from the control arm. Remove the strut.

Chapter 9:

Step 2/5

You now have access to the two silent block screws of the upper control arm. Disconnect the vacuum lines from the hub lock actuator using a fork.

Chapter 9:

Step 3/5

Brush the two nuts of the upper control arm silent block retaining bolts, and spray them with penetrating oil. Using a 21mm spanner, lock the nut on the front silent block retaining bolt, and unlock the bolt using a breaker bar and a 21mm socket.

Chapter 9:

Step 4/5

Finish unscrewing it using a socket wrench. Then remove the screw. Using the same tools, repeat the operation on the rear silent block screw.

Chapter 9:

Step 5/5

You can now remove the upper control arm by pulling it towards you and moving it back and forth.

Chapter 10:

Prepare the new control arm

Step 1/3

Brush and grease the control arm area to facilitate its installation.

Chapter 10:

Step 2/3

Unscrew the ball joint retaining screw. Take the control arm. Then install it.

Chapter 10:

Step 3/3

Reinsert the retaining bolts of the silent blocks, and screw the nuts back on, first by hand, then loosely with the ratchet and the spanner.
Reconnect the vacuum lines.

Chapter 11:

Tip for tightening silent block screws

Step 1/4

It is important that the control arm and the silent blocks slide easily in their slots, before a final tightening is carried out.
For accessibility reasons, the final tightening of the silent block screws must be done without the strut.

Chapter 11:

Step 2/4

Tip: to avoid everything rotating when screwing, reinsert the outer tie rod into its knuckle without screwing it back in. Start by temporarily replacing control arm ball joint in its knuckle, using the jack, and then screw it back in.

Chapter 11:

Step 3/4

In order not to damage the silent blocks, it is necessary to tighten the front retaining bolts in the “vehicle on the ground” position. Lift the wheel knuckle with the jack until the original measurement between the center of the wheel and the wheel arch is reached.

Chapter 11:

Step 4/4

Complete then the tightening of the silent blocks holding screws. Finish tightening using a torque wrench.

Chapter 12:

Install the new upper control arm

Step 1/4

In order to put the strut back in place, it is necessary to re-release the ball joint from its knuckle.

Chapter 12:

Step 2/4

Loosen the ball joint retaining nut. Then lower the jack slightly.

Chapter 12:

Step 3/4

Take a hammer, and hit the knuckle. The ball joint should come out of the knuckle. Finish unscrewing the nut. Then disassemble the whole. Remove the outer tie rod.

Chapter 12:

Step 4/4

Now you need to reinstall the strut. To do so, we recommend watching our video : “How to replace the struts Ford F-150?”.

Chapter 13:

Put the outer tie rod back

Step 1/1

Put the outer tie rod back in place. Then screw it back on. Finish tightening using a torque wrench.

Chapter 14:

Screw the control arm ball joint nut back

Step 1/2

Using a wire brush, scrub the knuckle of the wheel knuckle, then apply silicone grease to the flat part that will be in contact with the the upper control arm ball joint sleeve. Do not grease the inside of the cone.

Chapter 14:

Step 2/2

Reinsert the ball joint, then screw it back in. You can now complete the tightening of the upper control arm rod with a torque wrench.

Chapter 15:

Install the new sway bar end link

Step 1/1

You can now put the sway bar end link back in place, and screw it back in. Finish tightening using a torque wrench.

Chapter 16:

Finalise the reassembly

Step 1/2

Insert the third nut to hold the strut mount bearing in place. Then screw the three nuts back on with a ratchet until they make contact.

Chapter 16:

Step 2/2

For the final tightening of the strut foot and the struts bearing nuts, repeat the measuring technique used for the final tightening of the control arm silent blocks.

Chapter 17:

Put the vehicle back on the ground

Step 1/2

Then, you will be able to put the wheels back on your vehicle. During this operation, you will be intervening on the front axle of your car, so it is advisable to perform a wheel alignment afterwards. Put your vehicle back on the ground before properly fixing the wheels in place.

Chapter 17:

Step 2/2

Operation completed!