FocusCanada Forums

Can anyone give me some advice on removing the bolt on my lower control arm in the rear end of my Focus. I tried to install lowering springs and when trying to remove the bolt it begun to spin the bushing inside the control arm. You could here it like twist or something. It's weird so i just decided to tightebn it back up and leave it alone. I hadn't tried another rear bolt i just decided to do the front. So now my front end is lowered and my rear is OEM. My car looks likw a whell barrel. Can someone suggest anything or has anyone come across this sort of thing.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank You

PS:Great website Guys. I like it alot

Theres a bolt underneath the carpet and sound deadning material in the trunk (or hatch) that your gonna have to hold with I think is an Alan key or torx bit. This will prevent the bottom from turning...

Wish I had pics....

EDIT:



<a href='http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/Flofocus/bef1000d.jpg'>

Are u sure cause when i got the installaton intructions it never mentioned this bolt on the top of the trunk.

Here check the link out. There's no mentioning of it on this guide.

http://www.steeda.com/SpringInstalFocus.htm

p.s. is this the bolt you're talking about?



that rear lower control arm bolt is a super bitch...

After a failed attempt on another member's car, here's what we learned. We bailed because the bolt head was rounded and would pose a serious issue on reassembly.

you're going to need a can (or two) of liquid wrench, a jack or two, and a six sided driver (a socket that fits 100% snug on the bolt). This will prevent rounding of the head which is a good thing.

Soak the bolt on both ends with some liquid wrench... and let it sit for a while.. then go back, soak again, and let sit for a while.

ie good:<a href='http://www.baconsdozen.co.uk/tools/socket_files/handles.jpg'>
bad: <a href='http://www.baconsdozen.co.uk/tools/socket_files/elora%20whit%20sockets.jpg'></a>

get the car on jackstands, and use a jack to take a little bit of load off the control arm (you want to compress the spring with the jack basically)..

now, if you don't have air tools, this gets a bit tedius.. back out the bolt a bit, then tighten it back up.. back it out a bit more, and then back in.. slowly working through the rust and crap that's built up over the years. Even with air tools you may need to work it back and forth.

Don't forget to add more liquid wrench as you go along... the more the merrier... and eventually you should be able to work it out.&lt;a

Giobello,Aug 12 2004, 01:42 PM Wrote:Are u sure cause when i got the installaton intructions it never mentioned this bolt on the top of the trunk.

Here check the link out.&nbsp; There's no mentioning of it on this guide.

http://www.steeda.com/SpringInstalFocus.htm

When I did my FK suspension swap, that was the only way we could get that bolt to stop moving on the bottom. Go try it, won't hurt anything. Right? B)

EDIT: I htink we may be talking baout different bolts here. I'll shut up to save you confusion.

It's all good Guys but Darkpurple has the right idea. It is that bolt you showing in the Pic. What a bitch this bolt is. One other question for darkpurple. If i damaged the bushing beyond replacement what do i do then.

thanks Guys

Just try heating that sucker up a little with a torch. Works everytime, just don't scortch the crap out of it.

Torching it wont ruin the bushing inside. I hope not cause thats what im trying to avoid. To be honest if torching it a bit is the answer than i'll try. Im afraid that the bushing may melt cause the heat. i don't know enough about bushings.

I wouldn't use a torch... you could end up burning the bushing, and that's a really bad thing.

if you work slowly, you should be able to get it out without destroying the bushing... remember, it's the bolt and nut that are giving you the problems... if you take the load off the control arm, and check for severe binding, you should come out of this unscathed.

but if it did get mangled, you'd have to chat with your dealership to see what they can do... they should be able to order in a new bushing.

Giobello,Aug 12 2004, 01:57 PM Wrote:Darkpurple has the right idea.

Hehehe Darkpurple eh? Steve, the secret's out :lol: :lol:

Sorry it's darkpuppet OOPPS!!

See i know that the bushing is being mangeled inside. Cause you can here it spinning or something. I tried stop early enough for severe damage, but im dying to finish the lowering. Hey anyone from Ottawa Area that may be able to help me. See i've thought of the liquid wrench but i just aftraid of doing more damage to it. What pissing me off is i have any tool to my deisposal except a hoist. this is such an easy thing to do and has become so complicated. The Guys at FORD are Retards and they don't even help. I've asked about the bushing and they say that i need to replace this lower arm and it's 102 dollars. I just think they don't bother replacing bushings cause there Lazy FACK HEADS!! Or either the guy didn't have a clue what i was talking about!!!!

I just prefer to bring it to someone that seen this b4 or that can assist me. The rear spings are suppose to be the easy ones and it seems that the fronts are hard. LOL!! For me it's the complete oposite. I little help from a friend Called TEDDY THE TORCH and everything came off like butter. See the guys i've talkin to in the States live in IDEAL conditions withour this SALT s**t and can't understand why this bolt is screwed up. Actually neither do i to be honest.

Anything will help Guys Thank You

Anyone like old cars check my site out.

http://www.autowonderland.ca

Im in the Ottawa area and have a few extra bushings lying around to....let me check if I have that one.

Where you located? East? West? Im in Orleans....

Im in the Merivale area. Wednesday night i go to Orleans with my club. I'd have no problem meeting you anywhere. I know you know the Merivale Timmy's where everyone goes. I live like 2 seconds from there. I'd Appreciate any help. Im Gio by the way

Giobello,Aug 12 2004, 04:01 PM Wrote:Im in the Merivale area. Wednesday night i go to Orleans with my club. I'd have no problem meeting you anywhere. I know you know the Merivale Timmy's where everyone goes. I live like 2 seconds from there. I'd Appreciate any help. Im Gio by the way

Were you at cruise nights yesterday?

What color is your focus?

I never go to the west end so no....I dont know what Timmies your talking about. :lol: :unsure:

Do you need help tonight? Tomorrow?

I wasn't there on Wednesday but i go some times. the timmy's is a Loser hang out. it's a good thing you don't go there. My focus is White and it is a ride in progress. Im just doing a little at a time. Usually the work i do is at my friend shop off Merivale Road. Im not sure if i'd be tackling it tonight or tommorow. Maybe if u want i can show you exactly what my problem is and meet you somewhere. If u want i can give u my digits and we set up time to meet or wtv...

I never drive my focus there. I usually go in a 1963 Impala green or 61 bel-air 2 toned with white pearl and copper colur or a huge wagon in flames. Check my website out and you might recognize a car or to.

Main site is http://www.autowonderland.ca (Tell me what u think)

http://www.autowonderland.ca/main.html On this page there's the 61

and on this page there the 63 impala

http://www.autowonderland.ca/impala.html

yeah...i'm not really into the whole hanging out in the parking lot thing. &lt;_&lt;

More like, hanging out on the internet thing. :lol:

jk

Hello Everyone. Just a liitle note on the bushings issue i have. everyone has said i have to replace my lower arm cause my bushings are done. well i thing i found replacement bushings set that possibly may be the right ones. All im asking if anyone can check this site out that i will provide below to see if they are the proper bushings. Thanks guys. A pictire is available to.

http://www.ctamotorsports.com/specials.htm

there's 2 sets and im not sure if there the same but here are the part numbers

Rear trailing arm bushings (1 SET)
4.7124G

or this set

Rear Trailing Arm Bushings (1 SET)
4.7123


Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. thanks Everyone

I've had the same problem, and so has dan. My rear bushing is toast, and unfortunatly none of the after market kits come with this bushing. The bushing is not an orderable part from ford and the only option is to replace the whole rear lower control arm :( . The best bet for changing out the rear springs in this instance is to remove the bolts that connect the lower control arm at the center of the car in the rear. They will come out easyily enough . The bushing that you are looking at are for the trailing arm and those bushings connect up near the front of the rear wheel well, I still have not installed mine from the st bushing kit.


The other option is to find out where you can get the rear springs compressors from.