how hard is it to put a new control arm in my car? is it just a bolt off...bolt on affair....how hard is it?

thanx,
Gufran

 

This is an easy installation, since it's really just the following;

1) SAFELY jack car,
2) remove wheel
3) remove sway bar link
4) remove 2 17mm bolts holding shock strut to lower control arm
5) Use 2x 14mm openend wrenches to remove lower control arm bolt.

This removes the arm, and then you can use a gear puller to take off the cotter pin, castlenut, and lower spindle (with steering arm).

I changed mine out in about 2 hours, both sides, but be sure that you get lower control arms with inside bushings installed, plus ball joints installed. Mazdatrix has these cheapest, i.e., full setup for $130 each, IIRC. Victoria British makes you buy all parts separately for a lot more than that.

Increases front stiffness and restores ride feel and steering response. Definitely worth doing,

 

That's basically it. The only thing not mentioned was that the castor rod also bolts to the control arm.