How to Replace the Upper Control Arms on a 2006 F-150

The majority of modern suspension systems are some of the most intricate designs ever seen. The 2006 F-150, on the other hand, has a fairly basic front suspension -- each side consists of a shock absorber, upper and lower ball joints, stabilizer bar link, a lower control arm and an upper control arm. Replacing the upper control arm on the 2006 F-150 requires removing several of those components before you can remove the arm.

Instructions

1

Loosen the front lug nuts with a ratchet and socket and raise the front of the truck with a floor jack. Slide jack stands under the frame rails and lower the truck onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels off the front hubs.

2

Remove the three upper shock nuts using a ratchet and socket.

3

Hold the flats on the end of the outer tie rod end stud with a combination wrench and loosen the outer tie rod end nut with another combination wrench. Remove the outer tie rod end nut.

4

Position a tie rod end puller so its screw part contacts the tie rod end stud and its claws wrap around the steering knuckle. Tighten the tie rod end puller until the outer tie rod end pops free from the steering knuckle.

5

Reposition the outer tie rod end so there is enough clearance to remove the shock absorber and spring assembly.

6

Remove the lower nut from the shock absorber with a ratchet and socket as you hold its bolt steady with a combination wrench. Pull the bolt from the lower shock mount. Pull the shock from the truck.

7

Place a combination wrench on the flats on the end of the upper ball joint stud to keep it from rotating and loosen the ball joint nut with another combination wrench. Remove the upper ball joint nut by hand.

8

Remove each upper control arm nut with a ratchet and socket as you hold each nuts bolt with a combination wrench. Pivot the upper control arm upward to remove the upper ball joint stud from the spindle you do not need a special tool to pop the ball joint stud free. Pull the upper control arm bolts from the upper control arm and pull the arm from the truck.

9

Guide the upper control arm into its brackets in the frame and insert the bolts through the holes in the brackets in the frame position the front bolt so its threads face toward the front of the truck and the rear bolts threads face the rear. Thread the nuts onto the control arm bolts by hand.

10

Pivot the arm downward and guide the upper ball joint stud through the hole on the top of the steering knuckle. Hand-thread a new nut onto the upper ball joint. Hold the flats on the end of the upper ball joint with a combination wrench to prevent the stud from turning and torque the upper ball joint nut to 85 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and a crows foot attachment.

11

Position the shock and spring assembly into the truck and guide the upper mounting studs through the holes in its mounting point on the frame. Pivot the lower part of the shock so the lower shock mount seats in its bracket on the lower control arm.

12

Slide the lower shock bolt through the lower shock mount and loosely attach its nut by hand.

13

Slide the outer tie rod end stud through its hole in the steering knuckle and hand-thread a new nut onto the stud. Place a combination wrench on the flats on the end of the tie rod end stud to keep it from turning and tighten the tie rod end nut to 85 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and crows foot attachment.

14

Thread the upper shock absorber nuts onto the upper shock absorber studs, then torque them to 35 foot-pounds using a torque wrench and socket.

15

Repeat Steps 2 through 14 to replace the upper control arm on the other side of the truck.

16

Install the front wheels onto the trucks front hubs, then hand-tighten the lug nuts onto the front wheels. Raise the truck off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the truck to the ground, then torque the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 150 foot-pounds.

17

Tighten the lower shock absorber nut to 351 foot-pounds while holding its bolt still with a combination wrench. Torque the upper control arm nuts to 111 foot-pounds while holding each nuts bolt steady with a combination wrench. If needed, turn the wheels left or right to provide access to the nuts and bolts. You must torque this bolt with the truck on the ground; failure to do so may result in an incorrect ride height and damage to the suspension system.

18

Drive the F-150 to a nearby automotive repair facility to have an alignment performed.