Dseriespower

got some skunk 2 control arms, anybody got some advice on installing them? Are there any special tools that I will need?

racecarpete

ball joint seperator and basic socket set and some pliers for the cotter pin.

SikofFalln

A pickle fork and a hammer. I have also heard of alot of people replacing the hardware on the skunk2s with grade8 nuts and bolts.

jcda6

1) loosen the long bolts holding the anchor bolt to the shock body (do not take them out just yet)

2) Take out cotter pin and remove caster nut

3) Use hammer and hit the upper portion of knuckle to loosen ball joint. A few whacks will do the trick.

4) Now take out the bolts you loosen in step one and remove A-arm from car

5) "Message" the Skunk A-arm back into place and thread the bolt through the car and the upper A-arm anchor bolts

6) Using a jack, slowly jack up the LCA so you can tighten the caster nut. Replace cotter pin

7) Retighten the bolts up top

8) Adjust the 4 allen screws on the sliding ball joint with your best judgement (remember to get a REAL alignment afterwards)

9) Now go get yourself a drink

-Jeff C.

Dseriespower

Thanks for the How-to, it'll come in handy.

jcda6

Not a problem, and this procedure will also apply to those who install the sliding anchor joint camber kit. e.g. Ingall or GSR style camber kits, with a few exception of a few minor differences. If anyone wants the how to, I can do a write up on that if requested.

HTH
-Jeff C.

CXHatchback

The alignment is an immediate must. Your alginment will probably be very off once you change this.

jcda6

I did remind him to do so in my original post. Otherwise, it is very unsafe and not to mention the amount of tire wear you will induce on the tires if you don't get the car aligned immediately.

-Jeff C.

Vitt1

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jcda6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
3) Use hammer and hit the upper portion of knuckle to loosen ball joint. A few whacks will do the trick.
-Jeff C.</TD></TR></TABLE>

So, by doing this you don't need the ball joint separator? Sorry if it sounds redundant, but I've never done this before, and I'd rather have what I need on hand when I start taking things apart... TIA

doublejz

its pretty easy, just start working on it and you'll figure it out if you have a balljoint seperator it does make it easy, (i find it easy just to pull off the whole control arm. its only 3 nuts and axle nut which might be a pain if you dont have air tools or a big pipe ) you will need the balljoint seperator to seperate the upper balljoint that connects to the control arm. i have the skunk2 upper control arm too, and i found out if you don't lube it, it makes noise everytime you hit a dip or bump, so lube up the rubber bushings on the new upper control arm

Vitt1

Thanks for the reply, helps a lot.