Is there any write up on replacing the upper control arm shaft on a Gen 1

[TonyBaloni]

My upper shaft is blown out leaking grease out of the dust boots and has play in and out. Also really not trying to go down the rabbit hole of swapping gen 2 stuff.

 

[blaqsad]

Did you ever get this replaced? The manual should be available on http://mitsubishilinks.com/

 

[TonyBaloni]

Did you ever get this replaced? The manual should be available on http://mitsubishilinks.com/

Nah I never did, but it seems like no one's ever done it and everyone just replaces the whole arm which sucks because the only arms available are cheap Chinese brands. I found that the UCA's are similar in design to vintage mustangs and the end caps may or may not strip the threads out of the arm when you take em out.

 

[GrantC]

Nah I never did, but it seems like no one's ever done it and everyone just replaces the whole arm which sucks because the only arms available are cheap Chinese brands. I found that the UCA's are similar in design to vintage mustangs and the end caps may or may not strip the threads out of the arm when you take em out.

I did it a couple of years ago. Got the parts from Rock Auto, and they were even made in Japan!

You need a good impact wrench. The end caps use a crush thread that deforms as it's driven in, and they're really tough to get out (and to get the new ones in.) I was told that you can only replace them once - that the threads in the arm become too deformed to do it a second time. Measure carefully so the shaft mounting holes end up in the same position (front to back) and the caster isn't changed.

You'll need an alignment afterwards, and I found the local alignment shops don't stock the old-style shims any longer - had to supply my own (from Rock Auto, of course.)