Front upper arm removal
 

Hi all.
Quick question, I need to replace the front upper control arm, one nearest the front. Is it possible to do
This with the strut etc in place or do i need to remove the lot?
Also, how would I know if mine is the sport model? It's a 1996 4.2 v8.
Thanks!

If you can get the pinch bolt out it can be done, but that is far easier said than done!

Assuming you do get the pinch bolt out of the strut and then the ball joint out of the strut, when you remove the nut for that arm in the engine bay there may be a tiny circlip under it, which holds the bolt in to the alloy top mount bracket. This must be removed to get the bolt out, after which you can then remove the arm. You don't need to put the circlip back in - its purely there for the production line. If the arm has been changed before it may not be there at all.

The sport model has 18" alloys, bucket seats and the dampers should be a red-oxide colour assuming they're still original. The non-sport has 17" alloys and flatter 'comfort' seats, and the dampers will be black.

Great thank you! Well it's done 170k miles so hopefully was changed before!
And that's great, non sport model it is so!
Thanks again!

Got it out without removing all the suspension with a bit of jiggling! For the pinch bolt I found a tap with a drift and then a turn on the spanner worked a treat. A little long winded but handier than loosing ones temper with it!