Eliminating Loud Road Noises - Lower Control Arm Bushings Replacement - 2014 Ford Explorer

[@joshualewis7919]

You my friend, are a hero. After wailing on it with my deadblow for hours, and trying ratchet straps, etc., I had given up for the night, and found your video. I'm on the way to home depot right now.

[@hayseedfarm]

Glad this helped. I thought I was doing something wrong too because every video online looks so easy. There's even a comment on this video telling me I was doing it wrong and all you have to do is hammer the bushing on. That clamping jig I made was the only thing that worked. I really hope it works for you as well as it did for me.

[@stevefoos3875]

You get an A for persistence. I had to grin when I heard you say just tap it on with a hammer... I did this on my Focus a few years ago and even with a press it wasn't easy. I've seen the 1A Auto video that has to be edited and leaves out the hardest part with this bushing. I opted for full arms with bushings for my Flex. Thanks for posting the truth.

[@grease_queendockery148]

I highly appreciate a good step by step procedure. Exactly what I needed to see! Thank you

[@timothygalvan2178]

Thanks . I thought it would be easier until I started taking it apart . Then I watched your video. I ended up cutting it off with a saws all . I did make a press with long treaded rods . Thanks for the advice and video.

[@hayseedfarm]

I should have just cut mine off too. I ended up cutting through the second one because the bushing fell apart. I watched a bunch of videos that made it seem so easy, but obviously that was not the case. Glad the press did the trick!

[@spybranium1035]

Thank you for keeping it real!!! Good job

[@michaelking1319]

In this video you talked about safely supporting your car with jackstands and putting the tire under the car for added safety. I gave you a like just for that.

[@Seb-.]

I wish I had seen your vid sooner would of saved me a ton of time. I spent about two hours and got fed up ended by changing the table that comes with ball joint and bushing that took 30 minutes

[@hayseedfarm]

Well, most of the time I'm just figuring things out myself. There's a lot "left on the cutting room floor" as they say. There is great reward in taking on a difficult task and succeeding through the trial. Congrats for being one of the few who fix it themselves!

[@bryanmansell8050]

Very imformative. The device you made works I done the same one or two modifications realy easy well done.😊

[@hayseedfarm]

Thank you. Creating tools and jigs brings me a lot of joy in the shop. It's fun being able to figure out a fix without the "right" tool. Plus, the kids get a kick out of the new world contraptions hanging around.

[@PaulMcLove]

Thanks for posting ‼️ 👍😉😀

[@la-ia1404]

I am just replacing the entire control arm assembly. The new one has the bushing already on and in my mind seems like a lesser pain in my ass to install.

[@hayseedfarm]

👆This! If I had to do it again, I would just buy a whole replacement with the bushing on.

[@la-ia1404]

@@X3bands When I removed the arm I discovered the clunk and pop issue. The cv axle on the left side popped out of it's boot and wouldn't stay in. Good thing I caught it before it broke fully.

[@666hobart]

Very well produced video! I always drop all my tools every step of the way! Yall need more subs! I'll add myself to that list.

[@hayseedfarm]

Well, thanks! I appreciate you watching and subscribing. I somehow always manage to catch video of me dropping tools. It's kind of a joke for me when I'm editing the videos because it happens A LOT more than what makes it in the final cut. I got to get one of those Grypmats to keeps from losing all my 10mm sockets....

[@jvst20051]

Hayseed can u describe noise I'm getting a loud howling noise on passenger side wen going 60 but wen i lower the speed of cant hear it anymore

[@hayseedfarm]

It's a hum that bounces in pitch. Kind of like an unbalanced ceiling fan. I think I mention this in the video, but mine would start at 40 miles per hour. If it's anything like mine, you should be able to feel and see how loose the bushing is by jacking up the wheel and shaking the radial arm. Mine was holding on by a thread and would just flop around. Hope that helps.

[@opera5714]

I've replaced this similar item on much older Explorers where you would get a clunk. My 2014 114K has a lot of road noise and a drone above 40. I've checked the wheel bearings, CV and PTU and at this time they don't seem to be an issue. The rubber insert seems to visually OK. Would you call this a drone? Couldn't tell that much from audio

[@hayseedfarm]

It was a drone that would get SIGNIFICANTLY louder at about 40-50 miles per hour. That’s what got me started looking around. The rubber casing on this bushing had completely ripped, so it was easy to see where the problem was. If you can move the lower control arm inside the bushing housing, it may be bad.

[@mph5896]

Drone is usually hub bearings. I put them on the lift, turn off traction control and get them up to 40mph on the lift. You will hear a bad bearing, if not you can hold a screwdriver on your ear on the inside of the spindle to isolate.

[@hayseedfarm]

I ended up replacing the hubs on this car after replacing the control arm bushings. After that the ride was good as new.

[@1188clean]

🤣😂🤣😂 when I seen you trying to hammer on the bushing. I've done that but I actually got it on by force

[@hayseedfarm]

Oh, I definitely learned a thing or two on this project. I saw a guy online hammer it on like it was nothing. I thought this was going to be easy. I couldn't have been more wrong. Next time just buy it all pre-assembled.

[@markansah2654]

Do you have to remove the battery terminals before doing or it doesn't need, because the steering wheel is electronics

[@hayseedfarm]

Depends on which video this is for. I DID remove the battery terminal for the clock spring, but that was mostly cause I was messing with the airbag. I don't think you have to disconnect the battery for "servicing" the stuck steering joint above the EPS assist unit.

[@ethanzheng4673]

Great work! I am wondering how much mileage when the noise started coming out? I have a 2014 XLT with 65KKm only, grinding noise came out from steering rack. I was told need a new steering rack, and the control arm bushing are completely worn out. CAD$4K.

[@hayseedfarm]

For me it was about 120k miles.

[@JoeGuarino-x5x]

I just did my front ones and went through the same thing till I figured out that the after market ones are a hair smaller so I took a wire wheel and cleaned the rust and used soap and water and it went right on with 3 wacks of the hammer

[@kingsolomon4392]

i managed to do the passenger side bushing on the ground with a hammer and oil as lubrication to start getting it on, then i kept swinging the control arm with bushing on into the concrete for about 30 minutes and finally got it seated propperlly on a 2012 ford taraus limited

[@hayseedfarm]

I couldn't believe how hard it was. I'm getting a press in the shop for EXACTLY this kind of stuff. Glad you were able to get it on.

[@pierreboyd4107]

im getting clunking noises on the front. i cant stand it. im getting the pieces i think it is and maybe the be the bearing also. hope it works. I appreciate the video .

[@ferenzi7741]

Maybe put the metal control arm in freezer to shrink and gently heat the rubber while applying lubricant and making sure the metal surface is cleaned

[@pwee507]

😂 i like how the video just stops... hahha man thanks for the video cuz now im ready to go to princess auto after some all thread rod

[@hayseedfarm]

Dude. That project was rough. I learned a lot from these early repairs. Hopefully it was still somewhat helpful.

[@pwee507]

@@hayseedfarm you gave me warning that things were not going to be easy. Im currently borrowing an extra set of hands to use of of those big clamps to press it on

[@hayseedfarm]

Great plan. Good luck!

[@tonaltti]

Thanks, now I know I will not try to do it by myself.

[@hayseedfarm]

Your mileage may vary, but my experience was not as easy as some of the other videos I used to research this project.

[@JoseCalderon-tf1hu]

Great video but makes me feel like buying the whole control arm with the bushing already installed is the best way to do it 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@hayseedfarm]

If you don't have a press I think that's the way to go.

[@44altecz]

a lot of youtube tutorials about replacing this lower bushing are lies they cut away the hard parts and tell you its easy and dont try to replace that bushing on the Taurus it as no alignment slots so its impossible to line it up when putting it back on so just get the whole control arm

[@davem3789]

Here’s my advice. Buy a complete Motorcraft LCA with everything on it and you won’t have to fight this. The other bushing and ball joint will have wear also. 2023 price is around $130ea. The threaded rod idea is good if you just replace the rear bushing.

[@la-ia1404]

So my bushings have gone out already because I bought cheap shit. I am going to replace it like how you are doing it. But instead of creating a makeshift press like yours I am gonna heat my bushing in the oven till it reaches about 200F. That way the rubber is soft and easier to work with. Then I'm gonna use soap to lubricate the inside of the bushing so that way it just slides over. Hopefully this works!

[@hayseedfarm]

I really hope that works. I was at my wits end trying to get that bushing on. Good luck!

[@la-ia1404]

@@hayseedfarm Dude I got it changed out in 20 minutes last night. Didn't even need to heat up the bushing either. I used my Harbor Freight Bearing puller to remove the bushing and I spray a little water on it to make it easier. To get the bushing on I just used some dish soap and coated the inside of the rubber bushing and then got my Walmart mallet and tapped the new bushing on. Slid on with ease and to get soap off I just submerged the bushing attached to the control arm in some boiling water for a few. It's amazing how well soap works as a lubricant. Best part is it won't destroy rubber! :) Happy Easter!

[@hayseedfarm]

I'm so glad that worked. I saw so many other videos of people having success with that. Must just be my luck. Happy Easter!

[@dmsanchez7999]

You might want to check your underwear at 13:32

[@mike8549]

I have same vehicle i took it to 4 different shops spent over 8 grand did entire break system bearings and suspension system now they say bushings!!!! And they say new knuckle cause "FORD SAYS BUSHINGS ARE NOT SERVICEABLE" ANOTHER 3 GRAND!! F THAT IM DOING IT MYSELF FROM NOW ON THANK YOU!!

[@hayseedfarm]

It was not an easy job, but it was well worth it. I can totally see how they would rather swap out the whole knuckle and radial arm. It's just way easier, but it costs the customer so much more.

[@jacobthele6295]

Small ratchet strap. Don't even have to remove the whole arm.

[@hayseedfarm]

Good tip. I was ready to try anything at that point. Took a ton of force to push this on.

[@chrisalvarez56296]

Anyway you can send me a picture of what you did with the strap or a video

[@Serenity_Obscura]

Don't do this, ever. Trying to remove the bushing is a silly waste of time, you already removed the control arm compromising the ball joint and shortening its life, the entire arm with ballpoint and new bushing costs about 30 dollars more than the bushing by itself.

[@hayseedfarm]

You are absolutely right. When I made this video, I assumed the bushing replacement would be easier based on what I had read and seen elsewhere. After actually attempting it, I can say that buying the preassembled LCA is the way to go to avoid the mess of of trying to replace the bushing.

[@DarkExplorer961]

Going to be easy huh?

[@hayseedfarm]

Your not kidding. I learned a lesson or two that day.

[@pshhh5741]

To put it on, just spray with wd40 and use a dead blow hammer... I've done hundreds of em and it take about 2.5 mins to put the new one that way

[@hayseedfarm]

Tried that. Didn’t work. Maybe something to do with the part. Do you buy motorcraft bushings? From the other comments on here, I gather there is a split in how easy or difficult it is to install this bushing, ranging from a couple of minutes with a dead blow hammer to never attempt it again and buy the whole control arm.

[@keithgore6285]

Bro sounds like a bad wheel bearing. My car sounded the same replace the wheel bearing and gone.

[@hayseedfarm]

Good call. After replacing the worn LCA bushings, it was apparent that the heel bearing also needed to be replaced. I fixed that one in another video.

[@Darien2025Warren]

Just spend the extra money and buy the whole thing that is complete

[@hayseedfarm]

Yes to this. For about $40 extra per side you get it all put together plus the lower ball joint and front bushing. Way easier than trying to press that thing on.

[@josecardenas1467]

Wrong.! You not supose to use watch.

[@hayseedfarm]

I don't know what you mean. I use my watch all the time. Sometimes I do take it off for tight spaces or when working around moving parts to avoid entanglement.

[@nedcramdon1306]

F-O-R-Dee.... RUSTY CRAPIE (Mine is anyway)

[@hayseedfarm]

You're not wrong. There are a lot of things I like about my Explorer, but wrenching rusty parts isn't one of them.