Will the strut come out without un hooking the lower control arm? 2007 ram 1500 4wd

Hello Russell,

If you replacing the front struts as an assembly the springs will be equipped and ready to install.

If your purchasing the strut assembly without the coil springs you will need a spring compressor.

1. Before servicing the vehicle a service manual for safety precautions should be consulted.
2. Raise and support the vehicle.
3. Remove the tire and wheel assembly.
4. Support the lower control arm outboard end.
5. Remove the upper shock nuts.
6. Remove the stabilizer link lower nut and then separate the stabilizer link from the lower control arm to gain access to the lower shock bolt.
7. Remove the lower shock bolt.
8. Remove the shock.

To install:

1. Install the upper part of the shock into the frame bracket.
2. Install the nuts. Tighten to 45 ft. lbs. (61 Nm).
3. Install the lower part of the shock into the lower control arm. Tighten the bolt to 155 ft. lbs. (210 Nm).
4. Install the stabilizer link lower nut to the lower control arm.
5. Remove the support from the lower control arm outboard end.
6. Install the tire and wheel assembly.
7. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.

According to Autozone.com, you must replace the whole control arm. Here is their procedure:
NOTE do not begin the removal procedure unless a new strut-to-lower arm nut, a new ball joint pinch bolt/nut and a new lower arm-to-front subframe bolt/nut are available.

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
   NOTE
   Do not use a hammer to separate the ball joint from the front wheel hub and spindle.
   
   
   
   WheelsLower arm strut nut and dished washer. Discard them.
   
2. Place the steering wheel in the unlocked position.
   NOTE
   Do not allow the halfshaft to move outward. Over-extension of the halfshaft joint could result in separation of internal parts, causing failure of the halfshaft joint.
   
3. Remove or disconnect the following:
   NOTE
   Use extreme care to not damage the ball joint boot seal.
   
   
   
   Lower arm ball joint nut and pinch bolt. Discard them.Lower arm from the front wheel knuckle
   
   
   
   Remove and discard the lower arm-to-front subframe bolt and nutRemove the lower arm from the vehicleTo install:
   
   1. Install or connect the following:
      
      Lower arm strut into the lower arm rear strut bushingLower arm into the front sub-frame bracketNew lower arm-to-front subframe nut and bolt. While holding the lower arm horizontal, tighten to 85-97 ft. lbs. (115-132 Nm).Ball joint stud-to-wheel hub and spindle, making sure that the ball stud groove is properly positioned.New lower arm ball joint pinch bolt and nut. Tighten to 46-52 ft. lbs. 62-71 Nm).
   2. Clean the lower arm strut threads to remove dirt and contamination.
   3. Install the dished washer with the dished side away from the lower arm rear strut bushing.
   4. Install the front suspension lower arm strut-to-strut nut and tighten to 85-97 ft. lbs. (115-142 Nm).
   5. Install the wheels.
   6. Lower the vehicle.

THIS is the correct way:

Jack up the car and put it securely on jack-stands. Next, take the tire off. At this point, you'll want to put your jack under the outside end of the lower control arm. When you remove the bottom bolt for the strut, the whole assembly will want to drop. Without support you wont be able to remove the strut because it's pinched in the suspension. (I've held the wheel assembly up with one arm and wiggled the strut free with the other. Trust me, you don't want to do it that way.) You get the ability to adjust it up or down depending on what you need it to do. Next, remove the nut and bolt securing the strut to the lower control arm. Now it's time to open the hood and loosen the 3 - 10 mm nuts and spring washers that hold the strut in on top. (Do not loosen the very center nut on top EVER without a SPRING COMPRESSOR in place and tight!) Next, remove the nut and bolt securing the strut to the lower control arm. (now is when you might need to lower the jack under the knuckle a little.) The strut (and spring assembly) should come out nice n easy once you remove the 3 nuts on top. Hold the strut with one hand and remove the nuts with the other. Be ready. It's heavier than it looks. (Angle the bottom toward the rear of the vehicle and it should drop out.) Once that's out, back in the engine compartment on the motor side of the strut tower (the one for the strut you just took out) there are 2 large nuts on shiny silver studs that point at the motor. Loosen to turn-by-hand tight but don't remove them all the way. Now remove the cotter pin from the bottom of the upper ball joint and remove the castle nut. Use a ball joint fork if it wont separate from beating upwards with White rubber mallet. Once that's apart, just remove the loosened nuts on the side of the strut tower and the upper control arm should drop right out. Reassembly is all this in reverse order.

crazy glue

Where you buy your ball joints usually will rent (for free, just pay for it and then return it is what they do) a ball joint press. It's an easy job if you have any mechanical skills at all. The strut is what keeps the pressure on the spring, using the weight of the vehicle to compress the spring, just undo the strut, raise vehicle and the spring will relax and you can remove the upper control arm.

opper Control Arm Bushings

• To access the upper control arm, remove the shock absorber and the strut bar. Also, disconnect the sway bar from the lower control arm, if your particular Ram model is equipped with it. After that, you can hold the coil spring in place with a spring compressor.
  Secure the wheel hub assembly to the chassis using a wire before you disconnect the upper ball joint. This will prevent damage to the brake hose. When ready, release the ball joint using a ball-stud loosening tool (see Resources).
  The upper control arm mounts to the chassis with a cam bolt assembly. Once removed, you can place the control arm on a vise and remove the bushings using a bushing service tool (see Resources). When installing the new bushings, do not use any lubricant but make sure the flange on the bushing end seats properly on the arm bore. Then re-install the upper control arm. When finished, take your Dodge vehicle to a good shop to align the front suspension.
  

Lower Control Arm Bushings

• Remove the shock absorber and strut bar. If your particular model is equipped with a sway bar, disconnect it from the lower control arm.
  Secure the coil spring with a spring compressor and release the lower ball joint from the wheel/hub assembly using a ball stud loosening tool (see Resources).
  Now you can release the lower control arm by removing the rear mounting bolts. Remove the bushings with a bushing service tool (see Resources). When installing the new bushings, do not use lubricant and make sure they seat properly on the control arm bore. Then replace the lower control arm. When finished, take your Dodge vehicle to a good shop to align the front suspension
  

Please don't forget to rate!

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions section.
   

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
2. Front wheel
   

• Strut-to-lower control arm nut/bolt and the strut
  
• Strut-to-chassis nuts/bolts and the strut
  

Lower control arm Tundra

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   
   • Strut to the chassis. Torque the nuts/bolts to 33 ft. lbs. (45 Nm).
     
   • Strut to the lower control arm. Torque the nut/bolt to 144 ft. lbs. (195 Nm).
     
   • Front wheel
     

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Remove tire, remove lower ball joint, remove cv shaft, remove strut, then remove upper control arm.

Ther is another way to do it but it can be frustrating, You could take tire off , remove the upper bolts in the engine bay and the upper balljoint from the car but the bracket will stay hooked around the strut, There is a thinner metal on the backside of the upper control arm that is removable but requires patience and force, then it will fall into your hands without disconnecting the strut cv shaft or lower ball joint, But you have to remember to reinstall the thin plate before reinstalling the upper ball joint

Here are the instruction on how to replace your control arm bushing. please not that there is a special tool needed that you will need to get from you auto parts retailer. you can usually rent these tools.

1. 1. Turn the control arm over in the arbor press, then position the arm so that it is supported by the receiver tool MB-990799 as shown.
2. Position the new bushing into the control arm so it is square with the bushing hole. Position the installer tool MB-6644-1 or equivalent on top of the bushing, with the bushing setting in the recessed area of the installer tool. Press the bushing into the control arm.
   
3. Press the control arm bushing into the control arm until the installer tool squarely bottoms against the surface of the control arm. When the installer tool squarely bottoms on the control arm, the bushing is installed in the arm in the correct position.
   
4. Install the tension strut into the strut bushing in the control arm. Position the tension strut in the control arm with the word FRONT stamped in the tension strut positioned away from the control arm. With an open end wrench on the flat of the tension strut to stop the tension strut from turning. Tighten the NEW tension strut-to-control arm retaining nut to 110 ft. lbs. (150 Nm).
   
5. Install the lower control arm and tension strut back onto the vehicle. Refer to the Lower Control Arm procedure earlier in this section.
   

Control Arm-to-Tension Strut Bushing
To replace the control arm tension strut bushing, the control arm and tension strut assembly must be removed. The removal of the bushing requires the use of an arbor press.

1. Thoroughly lubricate the replacement tension strut bushing, control arm and installer tool 6644-3 or equivalent with a silicone lubricant.
   
2. By hand, install the tension strut bushing into the large end of the installer tool. Press the bushing into the installer tool as far as it will go by hand.
   
3. Position the control arm in the arbor press so that the tension strut hole in the control arm is centered on the receiver tool MB-990799 or equivalent. Position the installer tool with the previously installed bushing, inside of the tension strut bushing hole in the control arm. Position the installer tool on top of the tension strut bushing. Using the arbor press, press the tension strut bushing into the control arm. As the bushing is being pressed into the arm, a pop will be heard. When the pop is heard, the installer tool will slightly move up off the control arm. At this time remove the control arm assembly from the press and pull the tool MB-6644-3 off of the tension strut bushing in the control arm.
   

Please be mindful to carefully note the position of the old parts as you disassemble the suspension, then follow these steps to do the re-installation:

REMOVAL

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.

3. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.

4. Remove and discard the tension strut-to-control arm nut, then pull off the dished washer.

When separating the control arm from the steering knuckle, do not use a hammer. Be careful not to damage the ball joint boot seal.

5. Remove and discard the control arm-to-steering knuckle pinch bolt. Using a small prybar, spread the pinch joint slightly, then separate the control arm from the steering knuckle. A drift punch may be used to remove the bolt, but be very careful not to damage the ball joint boot seal.

Do not allow the halfshaft to move outward, or the tripod CV-joint internal parts could separate, causing failure of the joint.

6. Remove and discard the lower control arm inner pivot bolt and nut.

7. Remove the lower control arm from the frame and the tension strut.

INSTALLATION

Make sure the front washer is at the strut-to-lower control arm attachment.

8. Insert the strut into the inner bushing.

9. Position the lower control arm into the subframe bracket, using a new nut and bolt. Tighten to 73-97 ft. lbs. (98-132 Nm).

10. Assemble the lower control arm ball joint stud to the steering knuckle, making sure the ball stud groove is positioned properly. Be very careful not to damage the lower control arm seal.

11. Insert a new pinch bolt and nut, then tighten to 40-53 ft. lbs. (53-72 Nm).

12. Clean the strut threads to remove dirt and/or debris.

13. Install the dished washer, with its dished side away from the control arm bushing. Install a new nut on the strut and tighten to 73-97 ft. lbs. (98-132 Nm).

14. Install the wheel and tire assembly, tightening the lug nuts to 85-105 ft. lbs. (115-142 Nm), then carefully lower the vehicle.

I hope this helps.