Rear Control Arm Replacement

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:03 am

During my last annual motor vehicle inspection I learned that my rear upper control arm was beginning to rust out and will soon need replacement. Can anybody tell me if it's a difficult job to do? From the FSM diagrams it appears to held to the frame by two bolts and to the axle (?) by a ball joint?
It looks like a job I can do in my driveway.

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JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

Its a easy job....take it off and put new one back in. Support the jeep and the axle and you will be fine

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WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sun Jun 08, 2014 11:00 am

I have had mine off twice, first to replace the bushings which did not last, then I simply replaced the whole assembly with a new one. I bought a Raybestos 502-1287 Professional Grade Control Arm and Ball Joint Assembly off Amazon and it actually looked like a better quality than the one that I removed! :shock:

Safety First!
It can be done in your driveway using either drive on car ramps if you have them or good jack stands? With the rear wheels lifted up and the vehicle on Jack Stands, or setting on the car ramps, to allow you enough room to get underneath to the three bolts that hold it on the Jeep. :wink:

A little trick I learned: Chock both the front wheels so it cannot move in either direction while the rear end is elevated
Place the transmission in neutral with the emergency brake ON very tight.
After removing the old one,
Install the new one inserting the two body bolts first, then using a long screwdriver or pri-bar inserted right in front of the rear U-Joint; rotate the drive shaft in the direction you need to get the ball-joint stud on the control arm to line up with it's mated socket hole on top of the rear differential and pull it down into the socket and insert the pinch bolt. :SOMBRERO:

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Sun Jun 08, 2014 8:50 pm

Thanks for the tips guys. Tomorrow I'll crawl under my Jeep to get a better understanding of what the job involves.

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The_dealer · **Joined:** Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:41 pm **Posts:** 129

Jack under the pinion to hold the axle in place. Then u can easily rotate the axle to get everything back together

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tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2014 1:08 pm

Great thing about being lifted, I just roll under mine and remove it, no jacking needed
But all of the comments above are good ones for sure, a lot of people try to make it harder than what it actually is

The_dealer · **Joined:** Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:41 pm **Posts:** 129

Lol I don't have to jack mine. I only put the jack under the pinion to hold it in place. It helps a ton when u are trying to get bolts to line up, since u can easily rotate the pinion up or down. Agreed it's not hard, but I think alot of guys are still learning as they go.

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Rear Control Arm Replacement

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