Chris_Austria Posted April 16, 2010 Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 Hi! I've ordered the Dorman 520-170 lower control arm front right for my Seville. Does someone have experience with Dorman? I hope the quality is good, never heard of it before, but the price is very good and it says "oem quality". Just a statement or the truth? The price is $ 160 incl. shipping to Europe. The price the local dealer has told me for the oem part would be $ 770. Because of this differnce, I'm wondering if either the local dealers are bandits or if the quality of the oem part is so much better?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted April 16, 2010 Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 Please keep the board up to date on your experience. Future 1998-2004 Seville owners/readers will be your new best friends! Sources and part #'s are very helpful. Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Austria Posted April 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 I found the control arms at http://www.dormanproducts.com/ Then copied the # an searched for it at www.rockauto.com, price is about $ 80 without shipping (shipping to Europe $ 85, but still a lot cheaper than buying it here) Nobody has experience with Dorman products?? A statement from Dorman: "The control arms are engineered to be OE specific that fit and function exactly like the OE equivalent". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted April 16, 2010 Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 I have always known Dorman to have good quality, its a company like TRW and Moog Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Austria Posted April 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 I've read something about "lifetime warranty" at Rockauto... sounds unbelievable but they seem to be confident about their products Is it complicated to change the lower right control arm on my Seville? Can I do it by myself or should I take it to a shop? If it's possible to be done by myself, can you give me a few instructions and torque specifications? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted April 16, 2010 Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 I've read something about "lifetime warranty" at Rockauto... sounds unbelievable but they seem to be confident about their products Is it complicated to change the lower right control arm on my Seville? Can I do it by myself or should I take it to a shop? If it's possible to be done by myself, can you give me a few instructions and torque specifications? I have two procedures: Lower Control Arm Replacement With B9Q/V4U Lower Control Arm Replacement Without B9Q/V4U Take a look at the tag in your trunk and see what equipment you have and Ill post the procedure along with torque specs Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Austria Posted April 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 Here is a picture of what I found in my trunk: So I think I need the procedure without B9Q/V4U? Thank you very much!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted April 16, 2010 Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 The two control arms are different looking post a photo of yours and Ill post the appropriate R&R, Mike Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Austria Posted April 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 That's the part I've ordered... I compared it with the one on my car and it looks the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted April 16, 2010 Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 I made a mistake, the two different suspensions were on the Deville, the Seville only has one control arm, my mistake.... Here is the procedure Lower Control Arm Replacement Removal Procedure Tools Required J 43828 Ball Joint Separator Raise the vehicle and suitably support by the frame allowing the control arms to hang free. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information. Remove the wheel and tire. Disconnect the stabilizer link bolt from the control arm. Remove the cotter pin (1) and hex nut (2) from the ball joint stud. Using the J 43828 separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle. Remove the control arm mounting nuts and bolts. Remove the control arm. Installation Procedure. Install the control arm to frame. Install the control arm bolts, washers and nuts. Important Do not tighten the control arm nuts at this time. The weight of the vehicle must be supported by the control arms so that the vehicle design trim height is obtained before tightening the control arm mounting nuts. Install the stabilizer link to control arm. Position the ball joint stud in the steering knuckle. Install the ball joint nut. Tighten Tighten the stabilizer shaft link assembly nut to 17 N·m (13 lb ft). Tighten the ball joint stud nut to 10 N·m (88 lb in). Then tighten the nut two and a half flats to a minimum of 55 N·m (41 lb ft) to align the cotter pin slot. Install the cotter pin (1). Install the wheel and tire. Tighten Tighten the wheel nuts to 140 N·m (100 lb ft). Lower the vehicle Joist the vehicle and tighten the lower control arm nuts. Tighten Tighten the front lower control arm nut to 157 N·m (116 lb ft) and the rear lower control arm nut to 158 N·m (117 lb ft). Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Austria Posted April 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 Very good, I'll try it by myself as soon as the contral arm arrives in Austria Thank you! (I'm happy that the torque is "nm", saves a lot of time and eliminates the risk of conversion mistakes) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted April 16, 2010 Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 Very good, I'll try it by myself as soon as the contral arm arrives in Austria Thank you! (I'm happy that the torque is "nm", saves a lot of time and eliminates the risk of conversion mistakes) Hey Chris, check out this conversion program, I love it....., I wouldn't be without it, and its free, Mike http://joshmadison.com/software/convert-for-windows/ Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Austria Posted April 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 Oh thank you, very nice tool for conversions something off topic... do you know a cheap shipping method? rockauto wants $ 420 for shipping break rotors+pads (weight about 40 kg I think) is there a shipping concern that will be noticeable cheaper? if it takes 2-3 weeks instead of 3-4 days wouldn't be the problem... i can't find anything (don't know where to search) fedex (online calculator) is even more expensive than rockauto if i didn't make a mistake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted April 17, 2010 Report Share Posted April 17, 2010 $420 just for shipping? Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Austria Posted April 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2010 $420 shipping + 20% taxes in my country makes a total of about $500 only for the shipping (material is $400) if i could get shipping cheaper i'd really like to get the ac delco durastop brakes front and rear (not available in austria, dealer can order the standart brakes for $600 only front, that's why i didn't even ask how much the rear axle is ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holgatelbi Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Mike - Thanks for a very helpful description of the lower control arm R&R. I just ordered both sides ($118 w/ shpg from Rockauto) for my 2000 SLS & plan on doing them next weekend. Can I use the cheaper & more available fork seperator since I am getting new ball joints on the complete Dorman arms? Also is there a trick to the link bolt removal? It doesn't look like much of the bolt head is sticking out the bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Fiero Posted June 21, 2011 Report Share Posted June 21, 2011 I've got these in my '98. Knock on wood - so far so good! They were a 99% drop in replacement. The only this was I had to tap the hole in the arm (it was already drilled) for the ride height sensor. Not a huge deal. It's a VERY easy job to do. Do remember to grab some big wooden (not cinder) blocks though, so you can lower the car down onto them. Jounce it a bit to settle things, THEN tighten the LCA bolts. It mentions it in the manual, but it's worth mentioning again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfangd Posted June 22, 2011 Report Share Posted June 22, 2011 I have to say I have always had great luck with Dorman parts, and they really stick by their warranty. GM FAN FOREVER Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfangd Posted June 22, 2011 Report Share Posted June 22, 2011 I have to say I have always had great luck with Dorman parts, and they really stick by their warranty. GM FAN FOREVER Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzane Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 the Dealers in the USA go by the nickname STEALERSHIPS. They over charge due to the bad economy even those who were once fair businessmen have become victims to ruthlessness. Do not trust the dealer to give you a fair price whatsoever. Dorman products are excellent, I am rebuilding my front end (99 SLS) and using all parts from rockauto. The information and popularity of these forums will help you save 100's or 1000's of dollars that the stealerships would otherwise wring from your person. Good luck and keep up your diligence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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