2006 front aluminum control arm cleanung

[grayghost]

MY 2006 WRX aluminum control arms were covered with both a black paint, and a oily like substance making it difficult to soda blast.
My salutation was to spray "aircraft paint remover", in the spray can. and than Brillo pad the entire unit.
Tip for using the paint remover, the directions said to spray and let stand for 15 to 30 minuets. I sprayed it on and left it for about 10 to 15 minuets and
removed the paint residue with paper towels and than repeated the process. After witch I rinsed them off in the sink, and used a Brillo pad to further clean the services.This process cleaned about 95% of the problem areas. A WORD OF ADVICE - WEAR RUBBER GLOVES. grayghost

[68GT500MAN]

I have a HF blast cabinet and use glass beads for all of my aluminum cleaning. So far I have cleaned two sets of control arms for 818 builders and I believe that the owners are happy with the results. I do not like caustic paint removers for the reason you mention.
Doug

[Bill Waters]

I have a HF blast cabinet and use glass beads for all of my aluminum cleaning. So far I have cleaned two sets of control arms for 818 builders and I believe that the owners are happy with the results. I do not like caustic paint removers for the reason you mention.
Doug

Ditto re: effectiveness of glass bead blasting. My LCAs were just like you describe.

Bill

[AZPete]

My aluminum LCAs cleaned up nicely on a wire wheel.

Frt LCA.jpg

[Samiam1017]

Instead of starting another thread I figure this question fits in here. What ball joint is used with the aluminum arms. I have 06 wrx arms but the ball joints that I purchased are too long and the bolt won't tighten. Maybe it's the taper and not length? Anyway I purchased mevotech mk9513 that's the part number listed. Buts it's also the number for 05 steal arms? Any help would be appreciated

[Jaime]

The aluminum arms have a collar between the ball joint and the arm.

[RM1SepEx]

The aluminum arms have a collar between the ball joint and the arm.

and the same ball joint...

[Samiam1017]

Mine didn't come with a collar. Any pics. Something that shoulda come with the ball joint? Thx

[Samiam1017]

The part is subaru part 20216FA000. If anybody else needs them

[Goldwing]

To go along with the part number, it's the black, conical thing on the ball joint studs.
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