upper conrol arm bushings

[pitfield1]

I need help. I have a 69 442 that is going through a full resto.My first one.Does any one know an easy way to remove the old bushings (original) with out damaging the arm or the rod ?I The car sat for 25 years. so they are tight . Some guidence would be appreciated.


Dave
69 442 conv

[kevinkpk]

Originally Posted by pitfield1

I need help. I have a 69 442 that is going through a full resto.My first one.Does any one know an easy way to remove the old bushings (original) with out damaging the arm or the rod ?I The car sat for 25 years. so they are tight . Some guidence would be appreciated.


Dave
69 442 conv

Use a press or take it to a machine shop.

[pitfield1]

They press from the inside out and the rod is in the way. I tried . I guess a machine shop. Thanks for your help. PIT

[kevinkpk]

Originally Posted by pitfield1

They press from the inside out and the rod is in the way. I tried . I guess a machine shop. Thanks for your help. PIT

If you have a pep boys auto parts place near you, they probably can replace them for you. Thats what I did. Bushings were $50 from NAPA, and pep boys charged me $80 labor.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by pitfield1

They press from the inside out and the rod is in the way. I tried . I guess a machine shop. Thanks for your help. PIT

There is a special set of Kent-Moore tools for doing this. The concept is a thick washer with a slot that slips over the control arm shaft on the inside of the bushing. The shaft has a necked-down portion and the washer tool sits on this shoulder. The shaft itself is used as the press tool in a hydraulic press.

If you're doing this much work, get a Chassis Service Manual for your car. You'll need this book for the torque specs to properly (and safely) reassemble the suspension.

[kevinkpk]

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

There is a special set of Kent-Moore tools for doing this. The concept is a thick washer with a slot that slips over the control arm shaft on the inside of the bushing. The shaft has a necked-down portion and the washer tool sits on this shoulder. The shaft itself is used as the press tool in a hydraulic press.

If you're doing this much work, get a Chassis Service Manual for your car. You'll need this book for the torque specs to properly (and safely) reassemble the suspension.

Joe is right on the money with a chassis service manual. I bought a reproduction, only thing tough is the electrical is in black and white. The other thing to add, I always replace the hardwear, nuts, washers LOCK washers (especially).You can try eeeeeeeebay for a manual, mine was around $70, and just to add, it has been well used. You also might check the ball joints at that time.

[pitfield1]

Thank you very much.I bought an assembly manual but I will find a service manual.I bought a full bushing set,new ball joints ,tie rods ,centre link......All new, Big job but worth it.

I'll be back if I need more help.. Thanks again PIT


69 442 conv

[kevinkpk]

Originally Posted by pitfield1

Thank you very much.I bought an assembly manual but I will find a service manual.I bought a full bushing set,new ball joints ,tie rods ,centre link......All new, Big job but worth it.

I'll be back if I need more help.. Thanks again PIT


69 442 conv

It will be worth it, you also might make sure of the shims in the control arm, that you put them back exactly as you take them out, then have the alignment checked.

[pitfield1]

I got em out . A little heat , and an air hammer. No damage .I had a pro do it.40 years of ontario rust. Anyway I'm now offically in the rebuild stage.Three years of disassembling and marking and I figure 4 years of rebuild.
The body is rough, but the rarer the car the further you'll go.Thank you for your help and keep in touch.Very nice hot rods.




Pit

69 442 conv

[Olds64]

Cool that you got the control arm bushings apart. BTW, did you buy rubber or polyurethane bushings? I know PST and other suspension companies in car magazines advertise polyurethane or polygraphite (can't remember which one) bushings for improved performance. When I did the suspension on my 64 98 I used rubber bushings. The rebuild wasn't too hard and the ride quality was a drastic improvement over 40 year old bushings.

[pitfield1]

polyurethane. I bought the whole set. no use going just half way.



Pit

69 442 conv