Possible to replace UCA without removing coil-over?

[Nola622]

Just a quick question - Is it possible on a 200 series to replace the upper control arms without removing the front coil-overs? Has anybody done this? I realize the usual way would be to change both at once but I already have aftermarket front suspension and just want to swap in ARB UCAs for the stock UCAs.

Thanks

 

[nwfl4runner]

Yup - no problem to do it that way

 

[linuxgod]

Yes, I swapped my UCAs without touching the front shocks/springs. There's one long bolt/nut that goes through the frame and UCA, and then you have to knock the upper ball joint loose. I'm not incredibly mechanically inclined and it took me about 3 hours to do the whole thing. Driver's side is harder to access and required removing the battery. PS is easy if you don't have a second battery installed.

 

[CharlieS]

Yuppers. One long freaking bolt, the upper ball joint, and a few 12mm bolts holding wires. You don't need to remove the battery. I posted a thread recently with tips for how to remove that giant bolt.

Upper Control Arm Bolt Install Tip

This may have already been documented, but I haven't run across it, so putting this here so it might pop up in a search. I just recently replaced my upper control arms and I replaced the hardware while I was in there (probably overkill, but trying to be thorough). The tip is to open the hood...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Nola622]

Thanks guys - I appreciate it!

 

[linuxgod]

Yuppers. One long freaking bolt, the upper ball joint, and a few 12mm bolts holding wires. You don't need to remove the battery. I posted a thread recently with tips for how to remove that giant bolt.

Upper Control Arm Bolt Install Tip

This may have already been documented, but I haven't run across it, so putting this here so it might pop up in a search. I just recently replaced my upper control arms and I replaced the hardware while I was in there (probably overkill, but trying to be thorough). The tip is to open the hood...

forum.ih8mud.com

I’ll have to review. I couldn’t slide the bolt out without removing it and can’t see how you’d get the UCA off without removing the bolt, but I’m a novice so maybe I missed something

 

[CharlieS]

I certainly can't speak for others, but by unclipping the large cable bundle near the battery and shifting it to the side, I was able to slide the bolt forward enough to remove it, and replace it with a new one without taking out the battery. As they say YMMV.

 

[bloc]

I did it with the battery in place but the access was so much better without it’s probably worth removing it and dealing with resetting the stuff you have to afterwards. AC servo initialize, steering lines on the backup camera screen, etc.