The basic premise of this video is correct: replacing the entire control arm, which gets you two new bushings and a ball joint, is often better - and even necessary- than replacing just the ball joint. I just did a 2002 Caravan, which has the vastly better cast steel control arm. It is a breeze for ball joint replacement with a press, HOWEVER, just as shown in this video, once my old joint was pressed out a new Moog joint was so loose it wouldn’t hold itself in place and I had to buy a new arm. But, at $82 at my local parts store, it was cheap enough. Chrysler’s cheapo stamped steel arm in this newer van is an even better reason for replacement instead just trying to get a new ball joint in place. It is interesting to note that in some cases - my 1996 Ram pickup is one - oversized ball joints are available, but not for these vans, apparently. Replacing the driver side control arm is a problem on both older and newer vans. One big help at removing and reinstalling that front bushing bolt is to loosen - not remove - the second bolt that holds the suspension cradle to the vehicle unibody. There are four of these, two on each side of the vehicle. In the video vehicle one bolt secures the rear of the control arm. The second bolt head is visible in the upper left at 3:34 in the video. Loosening this bolt, and removing the rear bolt, allows the cradle to be pried down so that damn front bushing bolt easily clears the transmission. It also makes reinstalling the rear bolt easier if the alignment problem shown in the video occurs, as the cradle is easier to shift with a pry bar.
Thanks for posting this, it does look like it makes more sense to replace the entire control arm so you don't have to worry about pressing joints in and out and you also end up replacing other rubber parts that are probably ready to fail anyway.
Bro lol been replacing everything over 2 years chasing that noise and I got same ball joint I replaced, guarantee that's my noise problem. I replaced struts twice bearings twice trying to figure it out. Now it's obvious and I feel stupid 🤣 all good imma order 2 control arms lol
If you have to do this again, while your vehicle is on hack stands, use your floor jack to put a load on the wheel assembly. This should allow you to wiggle all the bolts into place and tighten them in the proper position. B
It took me a minuet to realize what your saying, and then remembered I had tried that. The problem was while I was applying pressure to any point to the suspension, it is was very unpredictable on the alignment of the holes aligning the bolt to press the bolts through by hand and although not impossible at the time , it was impracticable for the time involved. . This is "shade tree style" If you get any alignment close, get a "pin" in it and press it through... Thanks Daniel for the input!
@@davesrandomvideos totally get that. I often use the good ol bfh to help things along. 😆 Great video and will help many people realize how easy and satisfying working on your own vehicle can be. 🙂
When i do these on a caravan. I Put the rear bushing bolt and nut hand tight then swing it around slide balljoint in and hand tight nut. Then you still have play to put the last bolt easily then torque it all.
Hey Dan, I can see how that can be confusing. But I didn't push the rear bolt all that way in to allow it to have a little more play to get the others in. But that does not mean that is the only way to install it. Hopefully you succeeded. Please let us know if you found another method. Thanks for the comment!
Hey Bluestrip, Sorry for the late reply. In this case, no. Upper control arms are rarely used, except in some all terrain and high performance vehicles. Hope that helped.
The basic premise of this video is correct: replacing the entire control arm, which gets you two new bushings and a ball joint, is often better - and even necessary- than replacing just the ball joint. I just did a 2002 Caravan, which has the vastly better cast steel control arm. It is a breeze for ball joint replacement with a press, HOWEVER, just as shown in this video, once my old joint was pressed out a new Moog joint was so loose it wouldn’t hold itself in place and I had to buy a new arm. But, at $82 at my local parts store, it was cheap enough.
Chrysler’s cheapo stamped steel arm in this newer van is an even better reason for replacement instead just trying to get a new ball joint in place. It is interesting to note that in some cases - my 1996 Ram pickup is one - oversized ball joints are available, but not for these vans, apparently.
Replacing the driver side control arm is a problem on both older and newer vans. One big help at removing and reinstalling that front bushing bolt is to loosen - not remove - the second bolt that holds the suspension cradle to the vehicle unibody. There are four of these, two on each side of the vehicle. In the video vehicle one bolt secures the rear of the control arm. The second bolt head is visible in the upper left at 3:34 in the video. Loosening this bolt, and removing the rear bolt, allows the cradle to be pried down so that damn front bushing bolt easily clears the transmission. It also makes reinstalling the rear bolt easier if the alignment problem shown in the video occurs, as the cradle is easier to shift with a pry bar.
Thanks for posting this, it does look like it makes more sense to replace the entire control arm so you don't have to worry about pressing joints in and out and you also end up replacing other rubber parts that are probably ready to fail anyway.
Bro lol been replacing everything over 2 years chasing that noise and I got same ball joint I replaced, guarantee that's my noise problem. I replaced struts twice bearings twice trying to figure it out. Now it's obvious and I feel stupid 🤣 all good imma order 2 control arms lol
Anti seize every bolt that you remove. Nice job Dude!
If you have to do this again, while your vehicle is on hack stands, use your floor jack to put a load on the wheel assembly. This should allow you to wiggle all the bolts into place and tighten them in the proper position. B
It took me a minuet to realize what your saying, and then remembered I had tried that. The problem was while I was applying pressure to any point to the suspension, it is was very unpredictable on the alignment of the holes aligning the bolt to press the bolts through by hand and although not impossible at the time , it was impracticable for the time involved. . This is "shade tree style" If you get any alignment close, get a "pin" in it and press it through... Thanks Daniel for the input!
@@davesrandomvideos totally get that. I often use the good ol bfh to help things along. 😆 Great video and will help many people realize how easy and satisfying working on your own vehicle can be. 🙂
When i do these on a caravan. I Put the rear bushing bolt and nut hand tight then swing it around slide balljoint in and hand tight nut. Then you still have play to put the last bolt easily then torque it all.
Hey Dan, I can see how that can be confusing. But I didn't push the rear bolt all that way in to allow it to have a little more play to get the others in. But that does not mean that is the only way to install it. Hopefully you succeeded. Please let us know if you found another method. Thanks for the comment!
The thickness of that steel control arm looks like a hazard.
Thanks I was having the same problem getting those bolts in omg I should of watched your video first
Hey Neesha, Thanks for the comment! Let me know if you have any questions.
Helpful thank you gotta do mine except it's snowing here
So, when jacking the engine/trans up for clearance, how far do you jack it up? Do you have to loosen the motor mounts too?
I did not loosen any mounts. I raised the trans until it started tightening up when it had reached the end of the slack. Hope that helps.
What's the torque specs for these in replacing mine today and haven't got the money for the manual yet
Sorry for the late reply, but I'm a shade tree mechanic, so that would me a "FULL Grunt" on a 10" ratchet wrench...
the metal got soft on the old one heating it up, no jack stands, i wouldn't trust just a jack holding it up if you are going to crawl under it
Thanks for the input, and safety is important. I will make sure to point that out next time.
Do these vans have upper control arms
Hey Bluestrip, Sorry for the late reply. In this case, no. Upper control arms are rarely used, except in some all terrain and high performance vehicles. Hope that helped.
this the same on all the 08 grand caravans?
I would assume that all the 08 chassis were the same, just the options such as the engine. Mine had the 4.0