Control Your Motion - Replacing Upper Control Arms on a 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ

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“Project Control Arms” is coming to an end. In this video I replace the front upper control arms and bushings on my 1997 Jeep TJ. It’s hard to tell if the bushings really need it, but with 206,000 miles on the Jeep and previous owners that haven’t shown it much love, I’m thinking it’s worth the investment.
This video provides some tips and tricks, learned the hard way, so maybe it’ll be easier for you if you go after this project.
Torque all front control arm bolts to 55 ft-lbs after both control arms are installed and the wheels are back on the ground.
Parts (some link are Amazon Affiliate Links):
• Detroit Axle - Front Upper and Lower Control Arms Replacement for 1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ - 4pc Set (amzn.to/3E5BqF6)
• MOOG K3128 Control Arm Bushing Kit (amzn.to/3shbG6u)
• M10x1.5x75 Bolts (2) - I replaced the front bolts, reused the rear bolts (www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-10mm...)
• M10x1.5 Nuts (2) - I replaced the front nuts, reused the rear flag nuts (www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-10mm...)
• M10 washers (4) - for the new front bolts and nuts (www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-4-Co...)
Project TJ is the chronicling of working on my 1997 Jeep Wrangler. It's the SE version of a TJ with a 2.5L four cylinder and a standard transmission. At the time of making this video, the Jeep had ~206,500 miles on it.
I hope you enjoy! Subscribe to the channel and if you’re interested, you can support me on BuyMeACoffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/edvancise
Chapters:
Intro (0:00)
Remove Driver Control Arm (02:45)
Remove Driver Bushing (04:30)
Install Driver Bushing (07:15)
Install Driver Control Arm (09:38)
Remove Passenger Control Arm (10:35)
Remove Passenger Bushing (15:05)
Install Passenger Bushing (17:23)
Install Passenger Control Arm (17:59)
Final Thoughts (19:35)
Disclaimers:
This video is NOT sponsored by any of the brands mentioned throughout this video or video description. All thoughts mentioned are my own. Some links provided are affiliate links. They do not cost you anything, but I make a small percentage from the sale. Honesty is key on my channel, thank you for supporting me!
I am a Do It Yourself, also known as DIY, mechanic. I am NOT a professional mechanic. I do not have any formal training in the automotive field. I assume no liability for anything you choose to do to your car/vehicle or equipment before or after watching one of my videos. All DIY repairs or modifications you perform are made at your own risk. Sometimes, even if you've done everything the right way, you can destroy or damage one or more things on your car or equipment. You must understand this, but by leveraging knowledge and patience, the probability of encountering one or more problems can be reduced.
Also, if for some unfortunate reason, I do give incorrect instructions and something breaks because you followed my instructions, I will NOT reimburse or pay in any way for whatever cost that may be incurred due to following my wrong instructions.
Lastly, please don't do anything to your vehicle or equipment unless you yourself feel comfortable and confident in doing so.

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22 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 50

@CarbonsDIYGarage Год назад

Check out the video description for extra info, parts, tools, torques, and any updates.

@adruancruz955 2 года назад

I did mine on my Dad’s 99TJ…. Lots of work yes, but I no longer have the wobble, great video thanks

@ggordonliddy7442 Месяц назад

ahh, the old craftsman socket wrench, memories.

@CarbonsDIYGarage Месяц назад

That thing is a beast - takes beatings without giving me any grief. Love it! Thanks for watching.

@BerniesBastelBude 2 года назад

mission accomplished with fire & ice !

@CarbonsDIYGarage 2 года назад

Yay! Congrats!

@ForceBuilt 2 года назад

Job well done Ed!

@CarbonsDIYGarage 2 года назад

Thanks, Steve! Been a year owing TDSR now and the stuff on the underside is almost done…

@Soothsayer-rs5nb 2 года назад

I’ve done a few…. Freezing definitely helps !

@butchs2337 2 года назад

i just asked that question, thanks for the info, i did that a long time ago on a wraist pin for a piston, froze the pin and heated the piston and it fell right in, people would be amazed how much metal expands and shrinks, thanks again, i even thought about getting a small amount of dry ice and once i take the bushing out of the freezer put in a box with the dry ice to get it to the car to keep it frozen as long as possible

@MrRoundel 5 месяцев назад

Yeah, those axle side bushings are buggers. Watching these videos is why I kept my eye out for the special Miller or Kent Moore tool that was made to push these buggers in and out. It was well worth it so I didn't have to spend as much time on the ground fighting with the bushing. I still have the passenger side to do before I get my Jeep aligned. And even with the special tool I can't say I'm looking forward to it. Cheers.

@CarbonsDIYGarage 5 месяцев назад

It's definitely one of those "I hope I never have to do this again" projects... Thanks for watching!

@Manandmachine772 2 года назад

Great info Ed. I will be replacing mine next year.

@CarbonsDIYGarage 2 года назад

Thanks for watching, Carl, and good luck with yours - I hope your bolts are non-seized like mine were.

@Manandmachine772 2 года назад

@@CarbonsDIYGarage Thanks, will probably need it. as per our previous conversations re: my 00 TJ I am finishing up my frame repair and trying to get it finished up before winter sets in but it’s not looking good. With the wind makes it tough to work outside

@mikespine1 Год назад

Nice video: I wish I could stay as calm as you when I'm frustrated.

@CarbonsDIYGarage Год назад

Thanks, Mike, and thanks for watching. I’m sure there was some judicious editing in there as well… :) This TJ is definitely a patience tester.

@pujo28 Год назад

Just did my lower ones on my 2001 TJ. They looked original. 1 bolt was frozen. Lots of pb blaster. 30 seconds with the torch n kept repeating till it broke free. But it fought me most of the way. I kept kitting it with pb blaster every quarter turn. About to start the uppers. What fun

@CarbonsDIYGarage Год назад

The "fun" of the torture of these TJs... Glad you were able to get the bolt out eventually. These lower control arms (the bushings, especially) are no joke. Thanks for watching, Jake.

@pujo28 Год назад

@@CarbonsDIYGarage ya what a pain. Problem I’m having is with the flag bolt on drivers side upper arm. Can’t get a grip on it. Gonna try drilling a hole thru the arm into bushing n leave bit in place as a stop so flag doesn’t spin. I’m replacing bushing anyway. First I’ll try grabbing the flag from the other side with vice grips. Seems like trying to grab the shorter side is very hard. Or I’ll dimple the old control arm to get a better grip on flag. Tomorrows job

@CarbonsDIYGarage Год назад

@@pujo28 Oh yeah, I feel ya on those piece of crap flag nuts. That took a lot of time and effort for me as well. They essentially do the opposite job of what they’re supposed to! Good luck.

@hubertvecht7255 22 дня назад

Jack up the front end to relieve pressure and adjust control arms

@stevegmag Год назад

I wedged and locked a pair of needle nose vice grips on the control arm edge to stop the hook-flag-nut thingy from spinning.

@CarbonsDIYGarage Год назад

Great way to hold it! I wish I had some. Thanks for watching, Steven.

@rickdel73 2 года назад

Great Video.... Thank you!!

@CarbonsDIYGarage 2 года назад

Thanks for watching!

@bombdiggitydave3881 2 года назад

Firrst of all, thanks for the video log of your disassembly and reassembly. A few nuggets of help I hadn't seen before. You mentioned you had trouble with the final upper control arm install? Q: did you tighten up the other side upper 2 bolts and nuts before or after you got the final side reassembled. Could likely be that you bound up the control arms and bushings. If you ever do this again, set the jeep back down under load and then tighten and torque to spec. It will be easier. You may want to go back and re-torque all front and rear control arms under load after 100-200 or so miles, especially if you didn't use any blue lock tight on threads. YMMV

@CarbonsDIYGarage 2 года назад

Thanks for the comments! I did the driver side and torqued it up because it was about 4 weeks before I got back to do the passenger side. I didn’t loosen the driver side before working on the passenger side. That may very well have made a difference! Good call on checking the torque on the four bolts. I’ll probably loosen all four and retorque to make sure they’re not binding. Thanks for the feedback!

@Static_1010 2 месяца назад

I used a balljoint press to knock the centers out and an airhammer to crumple the sleeve and rest of the rubber i might have gotten lucky but was done in about 10 min. We dont have many rust issues here in sw washington though that damn johnny joint went in haaaard though i bruised my hand on the ratchet handle was the longest part of the process because i kept thinking it was seated and wasnt there yet

@CarbonsDIYGarage 2 месяца назад

Air tools definitely come in handy if you have them! Thanks for watching.

@Soothsayer-rs5nb 2 года назад

PB plaster then bring the heat… stuff falls alert like butter !

@CarbonsDIYGarage 2 года назад

Couldn't agree more. As I've done more and more work on this Jeep I've turned to Blaster, heat, and gentle turns/nudges as my go-to. Thanks for watching!

@robertthrem3382 Год назад

I have the right press for the job

@geologyrocksOSU Год назад

Could you elaborate on where you connected your straps at around the 18 min mark Were the other ends on the frame? I’m having the same issue. I’d like to orientate my straps using the same angles you had so I can get that front bolt aligned.

@CarbonsDIYGarage Год назад

Gosh, I really ought to have shown how I had the other ends of the straps setup. Apologies for not doing that. I had them all hooked to the transfer case skid plate. I think 1 or 2 of them in the holes in the bottom of the skid plate and at least one on the rear edge of the skid plate. The key was using the skid plate as a secure connection to the frame. I hope that helps and good luck on yours, Adam. Thanks for watching.

@Floridabreeze2 Год назад

You hold the flags with vicegrips pro tip

@CarbonsDIYGarage Год назад

Good tip - I totally agree. I couldn't get the only pair I had to work for me in that space, but it definitely would have made life easier. Thanks for watching and for the tip!

@butchs2337 2 года назад

i had the same idea of putting the bushing in the freezer and heat up the bore where the bushing goes, how did that work out for you freezing the bushing?

@CarbonsDIYGarage 2 года назад

To be honest, it didn't seem to make a difference but others have commented that it really helps. It can't hurt, that's for sure. I was also able to use the ball joint press to get the bushings in place, which made a big difference. Thanks for watching, Butch.

@butchs2337 2 года назад

@@CarbonsDIYGarage i will be doing my 1995 jeep grand cherokee soon 2x4 and have watched many videos on youtube before i get into it, i wish i had an air compressor that looks like the easy way to get the bushings out, and Advance auto has a press so that will help a lot, thanks for the reply, have a great day, the way i am looking at it, it does matter how long it takes me to change the up and lower control arms it will save me a lot of money doing them yourself at the rate a garage charges now a days, 260,000 miles and the car is very little i think

@CarbonsDIYGarage 2 года назад

@@butchs2337 Sounds like a fun (ok, maybe Type 2 fun) project. Good luck!

@DblClkThatShi Год назад

will a torch help with this?

@CarbonsDIYGarage Год назад

It depends on what "this" you're referring to. If it's getting nuts and bolts loose, that can usually help. If it's heating the frame or bracket up in order to get them to expand and the bushing come out more easily, that might work. It might take a lot of heat to make it happen and you'd probably end up burning/melting some of the bushing, but it might prove helpful - I don't think I tried it. If you mean flat out just burning the bushing out, I believe there are videos where people did that but to me it would just be a huge, stinking mess and not something I'd want to do.

@psychosysqo Год назад

You have a lift on it?

@CarbonsDIYGarage Год назад

Yes, a 2.5” suspension lift. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DHhVoZvS8_8.html

@garypiont6114 6 месяцев назад

Yikes!

@kurtnulf3362 Год назад

I have a system that if you replace a part on the jeep you upgrade that part .You replaced the control arms with the same cheap stamped steel part .Yes you did waste your time

@CarbonsDIYGarage Год назад

From your approach, you're absolutely right. For my approach, I don't have a desire to make this baby stronger, better, or taller. It's not going to be an offroad rig and it's likely not got too many years left on the road. It's also only going to be a Daily Driver in our family for another year or so. Thus, I invested in it what I needed to in order to regain some stability and to rule out some issues I've been having. I appreciate your input and feedback. It shows how Jeeps are so adaptable and upgradeable that everyone can make them uniquely their own - something much harder to do with nearly any other vehicle type out there.