Hi All.

Lately I've been having a lot of front end shaking/looseness. After diagnosing the problem carefully it looks like the passenger tie rod end and driver balljoint/control arm needs replacing.

I replaced the passenger tie rod end yesterday without a problem. This actually resolved most of my issues. Today, I tried to tackle the driver's side control arm. Few issues I could use some help with:

1. I'm using an electric impact wrench. The bolt on the front bushing is awfully close to some other component and therefore the impact and socket do not have enough clearance. I'm using deep sockets on the impact and am wondering if I should buy smaller sockets or try a breaker bar instead? Do swivel sockets work on an impact?

2. My floor jack sucks. I can't get the car high enough to fit the impact underneath the car to remove the rear bushing/control arm bracket bolts. A breaker bar does fit. Will this also work?

I guess my main question is: can I do this without power tools? It seems like the impact is too big and bulky to get into some of these areas. I think with the right size sockets for my breaker bar I can maybe get some of these bolts loose. However, I want to make sure they're super tight once the new one goes on.

Anyone have any advice? Trying really hard not to pay someone to do this.

Thanks!

 

if you have a good breaker bar, use it!!!

 

those control arm bolts are very tight.