Front Control Arm Install

[ArkansasMystic]

My next mod will be a set of front control arms from a 03/04 Cobra. I've already learned that I shouldn't try to work on the car myself, never works out like expected. I've got a local mechanic that usually does all the work on my car, not sure if I'll be able to get him to do it or not though. Does anyone have some recommendations for a shop to have them installed? I'm in Russellville, the closer the better. What I would hope to do is take one day off work, drive down, drop the car off, kill a few hours and go pick up. Thanks!

[sweet2kstang]

i will be pulling mine off soon if you need a set. i also have another set that needs ball joints. they are a strait forward swap, but if you feel as if you need to take it to some one then thats all on you.

[ArkansasMystic]

I'm not mechanically inclined, and I've learned not to even try. It took me forever to get my new headlights put in. Should have been a simple swap, but after breaking a part here and there, it was like knocking over Domino's. Same goes for about every mod I've tried to do myself. I can get new ones through Ford for about $140, so I'll probably go that route.

[ArkansasMystic]

Anyone know of a good place? I talked to my mechanic, he really didn't wanna tackle the job. He recommended a local shop. I went by there today, they quoted me $310 ($240 for the install, $40 for an alignment, then tax). There's no way it's worth that to me. Does anyone know somewhere that may be cheaper? They said 4 hours labor at $60 per hour. Thanks!

[my4stangs]

If you fell like driving to Benton I will do it for $125

[ArkansasMystic]

Thanks for the offer, I'll keep that in mind. I'm really thinking about going to some different tires that may solve most of my issues (with the 275's up front it wanders around the road).

[my4stangs]

I am still running to stock size 245/45/17's on my 96 Cobra. It handles pretty good. I replaced the ball joints about 3 months ago, seemed to help.

[ArkansasMystic]

Yea, up until last month when I got my new wheels I was running 245/45/17 Nittos. It's not real bad, but definitely a difference with the wider tires up front. For $300-$400, I got a lot better things to do (wanting sub frame connectors). I'm just gonna have to wait until I choose which tire setup I want, and if I go back with a 255 I probably won't need the new arms.

[Bigjht]

Sounds like you just need a bumpsteer kit. That should solve your issue without needing to replace the control arms.

[Blackout_03]

I guess i dont understand why you would want to replace your control arms from a 03 cobra. As far as i know all 94-2004 suspension's are the same...other than a few different spring rates and the IRS in 03-04 bra. I dont think swaping them is going to fix the wandering issues. I would look at the Steeda Bump Steer kit and the Steeda x2 ball joints. With lowering springs it gets the geometery out of wack up front and control arms arent going to fix that.

Do you have a after market set of Cast/camber plates and when was the last alingment you got?......Could be a prob with toe in/out also

[ArkansasMystic]

It's a common problem with the 94-98 Cobras (and other models I assume). The wider tires cause the wandering (called tramlining or somehting like that). The front control arms from a 03/04 Cobra are definitely different than the ones on my 96. Although a handful say they didn't notice a difference, but most say the tramlining is reduced with the upgrade. Also, you get a 10% sharper turning radius and better handling. My 275's rub just a tad when the wheels are fully turned, the 03 arms give you a little more clearance and fix that as well. I have MM c/c plates. I'm not sure when the last alignment was, it's been atleast a year. Instead of one set of all season tires, I think I'm gonna run summer tires on my new rims, winter (or all season) tires on my stock rims. For summer tires I'm looking at BFG KDW2's, which only come in a 255 so that will help my tramlining issue. I may still look into a bumpsteer kit in the future, that's something I haven't thought of.

[Blackout_03]

Every 94-04 I have owned or driven has the wandering prob with a 275 up front. Even the 03-04 cobras

[ArkansasMystic]

I've talked to several people who are running 275's on a 96-98 Cobra, and they claim that c/c plates, bumpsteer kit, and 03 Cobra front control arms eliminated probably 90% of the tramlining. I never realized it was gonna be that much to get them installed, so I'm gonna buy something else (probably dr's or subframes). The control arms are too much money just to *see* if it fixes the problem.

[Bigjht]

I've talked to several people who are running 275's on a 96-98 Cobra, and they claim that c/c plates, bumpsteer kit, and 03 Cobra front control arms eliminated probably 90% of the tramlining. I never realized it was gonna be that much to get them installed, so I'm gonna buy something else (probably dr's or subframes). The control arms are too much money just to *see* if it fixes the problem.


I had a very similar setup as you did in my 99, which should be the same control arms, and had the same issue with thinner tires up front. The bumpsteer kit corrected almost all of that. I would highly recommend trying that first. The install on those should be very cheap since it's just unscrewing the tie rod and replacing it with those. Shouldn't be much more than an alignment.

[ArkansasMystic]

The biggest problem I have is that when I hit the brakes fairly hard, it fells like a nosedive and it usually pulls badly to one side. From what I've read, that's bumpsteer, right? What do you all suggest for bumpsteer kits? I've checked around, it seems steeda is the only brand I can find at the normal parts sites I visit. I was hoping for some Maximum Motorsports ones, but I guess they don't make them for my year model. Thanks guys, you've probably saved me a good chunk of change.

[04_S/C_GT]

Try Jegs or Summit. I'm pretty sure i seen a few different ones on there.

[ArkansasMystic]

I've found Steeda's and UPR's, I guess either should work right?

[Joey5.4]

either of them two should be fine, both UPR and Steeda have great products. that will more than likely fix your problem with wandering all over the road rather than control arms. But with slamming on brakes and it pulling to one side, that sounds like a brake problem or maybe a bad strut.

[Bigjht]

The biggest problem I have is that when I hit the brakes fairly hard, it fells like a nosedive and it usually pulls badly to one side. From what I've read, that's bumpsteer, right? What do you all suggest for bumpsteer kits? I've checked around, it seems steeda is the only brand I can find at the normal parts sites I visit. I was hoping for some Maximum Motorsports ones, but I guess they don't make them for my year model. Thanks guys, you've probably saved me a good chunk of change.


Here is the Maximum Motorsports one http://www.maximummotorsports.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_348&products_id=451

Unless they have changed from when I was looking in to it the Maximum Motorsports, Steeda, and Baer bumpsteer kits were the same.

[ArkansasMystic]

When it pulls when braking, it isn't always the same direction. I'm not sure. I looked on the MM website and couldn't find them, thanks for the link.

[04_S/C_GT]

Mine was doing the same thing and i just went and got an alignment and know its all better.