rorr

Hi All,
I recently installed some new lower control arms on my girlfriend's 2007 LT. I was disappoint after replacing rear shocks, front struts and sway bar bushings at how noisy the front end was, so I replace the LCAs and Wham-O! that thing drives like it was brand new now. Super pleased what the LCAs did for tightening up that 268K mile front suspension.
So, I want to do the same on my 99K mile SS but as many of you know, FE5 SS lower control arms are only available from GM, and they aren't cheap. I am cheap though, so I want to rebuild mine. I see where I can get the bushings from Moog, but the ball joint is the issue (pin diameter to be precise). I have read the discussions here on the forum, but nobody has found a ball joint yet for our FE5 equipped SS HHRs.
I am curious if anyone has found a compatible part for the ball joint yet? One which has a pin diameter of 20.5mm?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Robert

donbrew

Nope.

firemangeorge

Since it's usually the bushings that wear out, you could just replace those and leave the original ball joint on there. (unless the ball joint is really bad)

rorr

Appreciate the replies guys. I think I'm discovering the ball joints are what actually wear out first. My girlfriend's control arm bushings look great, and if you move the ball joint around, it feels pretty tight... until you get it in that one spot where it spends it's whole life when it is on the car, then it's sloppy.

I may bite the bullet and buy GM ones, I don't know how much longer they're going to be available for... I may also try to come up with a sleeve to take up the difference in diameter of the pins.

Sincerely,
Robert

firemangeorge

Huh ?
Why would you need a sleeve if you say you're going to buy the GM control arms, which have the correct ball joint ?

Oldblue

RockAuto has the GM LCA’s for the SS model, please don’t risk damaging your SS over a few dollars , get the AC Delco’s

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...trol+arm,10401


and don’t forget the discount code!!

rorr

I said I may buy the GM ones. I said I also may just sleeve the pins. 2 different paths of repair. Sorry for the confusion.

hhrumadbruh

I've been reading dozens of comments about how we can't get the control arms for the SS anywhere...are these all valid replacements???

Oldblue

No, that posted link was from the RockAuto site in August 2020. The GM LCA’s are obsolete now.
SS owners have to purchase ball joints from OTTP and solid rear bushings from AC Delco or the problem solvers from Moog K201285

https://www.overthetopperformance.co...LNF_p_295.html

https://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/moog-k201285

hhrumadbruh

Thank you for the info Blue.

So it's still cheaper to just swap the bushings out and buy/rent the tool to do it? Wish I new about problem solvers before i started this job.