So I posted the thread about the death wobble in the other forum... Ball joints and steering linkage is tight as a drum.
Today I was investigating the control arms... the factory rubber bushings are toast so I started to prep the job by soaking the bolts with PB Blast and trying to loosen them and see if they spin freely...LOL yea Right.. Sure enough some of the bolts are seized in the sleeves and I snapped one of the lower bolts on the caster eccentrics.. They are special bolts with a flat side machined into them so I assume they will have to come from Dodge... Are there any tricks to getting these arms off without too much carnage?? I think I am going to end up needing new arms and the whole 9... Anyone have any suggestions or tips on what to do? Thanks !

 

Don't worry you will be ok......You will learn some new words on those arms...What you discribe is the same problem I had...I also broke that caster adjustment bolt...You will have to get that from Dodge...I think it was about $21...As for your seized bolts...Now fun starts...You may be able to heat them to get them out,but if you don't have a torch and hope you have a air compressor.I used a air centre punch and kept beating on the bolts.I had to cut each side of the bolt and used the air punch on both sides..Before I did this I used a 5lb hammer and those darn bolts would not move.Use alot of penatrating oil also while your beating those bolts out.Out of 8 bolts I had 2 that would not come out...Make sure when you get replacment bolts,get the right grade...I think they where grade 10..Some of the other guys may have some ideas also...This has been posted before..

 

Hey Wicked. I just completed the same job on mine but....... mine all came out real easy, you must live in the snow and rain. Anyways stay at it. I got my control arms from Rancho (had to use my local shop to order them) and I added zirks to each end. I see you added spacers already and the good xl 9000 shock, have them also, so tell them that so you can get the half inch or so longer arms. Those stock ones are pieces of junk yea ? Add the zirks in a place you can get to them, the upper arms and use good grease. They will go on easy once you get them old dogs out.

 

Thats typical.. with mine I had to use a saber saw to cut them out. Ugh.
You can get new bolts from dodge and aftermarket arms online. Anything will be better than those stockers =(
Someone is selling some thuren prototype arms in the classifieds.. theyre really nice
Make sure to slather everything in anti-seize for the next poor soul thats got to work in there.

 

I called my local Dodge dealer and he can't tell me what bolts are what... This is gonna be a hassle

 

Tell them you need upper and lower control arm bolts. My dealer found them pretty easy.
I wish there were some online places that had a fiche you could work from

 

They said it does not specify what bolts are the right ones... I need the lower bolts with the flat side machined into them and they can't tell me whats what..

 

3 dealerships and nobody can help...

 

Are they having problems with the standard bolts or the front bolt that does the caster adjustment...?I should have the caster bolt part number..I didn't get my bolts from dodge except the caster bolt,dodge wanted some stupid price for a grade 11 bolts(Check this on the orginal bolt,I think it was a 11)...I went to bolt supply warehouse and got them for 1/4 of the price....Make sure you get the right grade...

 

YES! I need the caster bolts... Those are the buggers! Thanks! The rest I'm not worried about...

 

If you have the part#...I'd really appreciate it.. I'll throw it the face of the parts guy at Dodge and tell him ..maybe I should be a Dodge parts guy...

 

I'm looking for it...

 

Lookie lookie what I found...
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...ont+Suspension

 

Dodge doesn't have very good discriptions on there receipts...I haven't ordered much from dodge but I found one but not sure if this is the part.The price is close to $34 but not sure if this is the caster bolt or something else.It says "cup"....You could call dodge and give them this P/N...It maybe the bolt or something else..P/N 4741405.I found another receipt with discription "Hex".Price is $20 P/N 6504237...Sorry I couldn't be more of help here...

 

You got it.....Thats what you need...