redbat
06-30-2015, 05:57 PM
Ok, so I was getting a clunk from the right front wheel area whenever I went over a bump, so I replaced the upper control arms on that side.
Not super easy, and I ran out of time so I only did the one instead of both like I was planning.
I put a jack under the lower control arm and raised it until it just started to lift off of the jack stands (to put it under load) and then tightened the upper bolts.
When I put everything back together and put the wheel back on and went for a short test drive, I noticed that the steering was waaaay off, the camber of the wheel was way off (top in, bottom out), and the toe was off as well (toe out).
The only thing I can think is that because I had BOTH sides of the car raised (because I was going to do both UCAs), maybe the load I put on the right should have also been balanced out by also putting a jack under the LEFT lower control arm so there was a load on it as well? As in, maybe the sway bar or something isn't right?
Any ideas? [facepalm]
I took some photos of the one I changed and the one I didn't. The other thing I noticed after taking the photos is that the angle of the strut is off - I'm guessing it should be roughly parallel to the dealie in front of it that the ends of the upper control arms socket into.
http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/control_arms.jpg
Not super easy, and I ran out of time so I only did the one instead of both like I was planning.
I put a jack under the lower control arm and raised it until it just started to lift off of the jack stands (to put it under load) and then tightened the upper bolts.
When I put everything back together and put the wheel back on and went for a short test drive, I noticed that the steering was waaaay off, the camber of the wheel was way off (top in, bottom out), and the toe was off as well (toe out).
The only thing I can think is that because I had BOTH sides of the car raised (because I was going to do both UCAs), maybe the load I put on the right should have also been balanced out by also putting a jack under the LEFT lower control arm so there was a load on it as well? As in, maybe the sway bar or something isn't right?
Any ideas? [facepalm]
I took some photos of the one I changed and the one I didn't. The other thing I noticed after taking the photos is that the angle of the strut is off - I'm guessing it should be roughly parallel to the dealie in front of it that the ends of the upper control arms socket into.
http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/control_arms.jpg