Parts for your 1999 Ford Falcon-Control arms

1999 Ford Falcon control-arms — purpose, care and when to replace

Control-arms are absolutely used on the 1999 Ford Falcon. Technical references including the Ford AU Falcon Workshop Manual (1998–2002), Gregory’s Service and Repair Manual for Falcon AU series, and period technical reviews from Wheels magazine and Ford Australia product information describe the AU front end as a short-and-long-arm (SLA) double wishbone layout with upper and lower control-arms. That makes control-arms directly relevant to any 1999 Falcon sedan, wagon or ute.

On an AU-series Falcon, the front control-arms locate the steering knuckle, manage camber and caster as the suspension moves, and keep the tyre contact patch planted through bumps and braking. Each arm pivots on rubber (or polyurethane) bushes at the chassis and connects to the hub via a ball joint, allowing vertical wheel travel without losing steering precision. When the bushes or ball joints wear, alignment wanders, tyres scrub, and the car can feel vague or clunky over rough roads.

As part of regular servicing, it’s smart to inspect the control-arm bushes and ball joints every 20,000 km (or at least at each service). Look for cracked or split bushes, perished ball-joint boots, and any play. Aussie and Kiwi roads, kerb strikes or a decent pothole can accelerate wear, so higher-mileage Falcons often benefit from fresh arms or bush kits around the 150,000–200,000 km mark.

• Common signs it’s time: clunks over bumps, steering shimmy, pulling under brakes, uneven inner-edge tyre wear, or a wandering feel on the motorway.
• Replacement tips: many choose complete arm assemblies (new bushes and ball joint pre-fitted) to save time. If fitting bush kits, a press is usually required, and bush bolts should be torqued at normal ride height to avoid preloading.
• Always get a four-wheel alignment after control-arm work. Camber, caster and toe can shift when parts are renewed.

Quality matters. Genuine or reputable aftermarket arms and bushes will ride better and last longer. Rubber bushes keep NVH civil for daily driving, polyurethane can sharpen response but may add a bit of road feel. While you’re there, check sway-bar links, tie-rod ends and strut mounts so the front end feels tight as a drum. Done right, refreshed control-arms bring a 1999 Falcon back to that confident, planted feel owners remember.

Popular question: What symptoms point to worn control-arms on a 1999 Falcon?

Expect clunks over speed humps, a shimmy through the wheel, pulling or instability under braking, and inner-edge tyre wear. If it tramlines or wanders at 80–100 km/h, the bushes or ball joints likely need attention.

Popular question: Do you need a wheel alignment after replacing control-arms?

Yes. Control-arms influence camber and caster, and changing them can alter toe as well. A proper alignment locks in tyre life and restores straight-line stability and steering feel.

Popular question: Replace just the bushes, or the whole control-arm?

Bush kits are cheaper but require a press and careful setup. Complete arms come with new bushes and ball joints installed, saving labour and reducing the chance of squeaks or premature wear. Many choose full arms on higher-kilometre cars for a clean reset.