Control Arm Bushing Question
#1
Control Arm Bushing Question
Is it possible to change out just one upper control arm bushing without dissasembling the front end - i.e. having to bust the ball joint loose and decompress the spring?
#2
if you have a good support under the bottom control arm and the full weight of the car is on it, you can remove the upper control arm, change the bushings and put it back on. you will still have to separate the ball joint from the spindle. it would also be a good time to replace the ball joints "while you are there"
#4
oh Man, Joe, control arm bushing....
Based on what Rob and Allan went through, it's a PITA to remove the bushing, let alone it be on the car.
I bought a new set of control arms off scott, maybe could you go that route, buy a new bushing set and balljoint, paint and install everything, then just swap the control arms.
That's what i did, i've pressed in all the new stuff, so i'm just going to remove one by one and replace 4 corners.
Based on what Rob and Allan went through, it's a PITA to remove the bushing, let alone it be on the car.
I bought a new set of control arms off scott, maybe could you go that route, buy a new bushing set and balljoint, paint and install everything, then just swap the control arms.
That's what i did, i've pressed in all the new stuff, so i'm just going to remove one by one and replace 4 corners.
#6
Thanks for the help guys. One of the a arm bushings (driver's side rear) is pushing some of the rubber out - all the others look good. This car had the ball joints & upper/lower bushings, springs, tie rods & idler arm changed out in 1997 and was only driven about 8,000 miles since. The front clip is off the car and thought maybe I could just replace the one bushing, but it sounds like I'll need to break it all apart. Oh well, back to the bead blast cabinet...........
#7
Yes, you can do it if you have room to swing a BFH. I changed all 4 on my ElCamino without removing either side. Just put a floor jack under the lower arm to take the weight off the tire so there's no pressure on the upper arm. Do the bushings one at a time. Leave the shaft bolted in and smack the old out with a chisel. Then using a socket that fits the bushing, pop in the new with a hammer.
The key is having room to swing the hammer and grease them up a little.
#9
#10
An even better BFH!
Not on the rubber Rob. A couple drops of motor oil on the metal sleeve or inside the hole in the arm to help them slide into the control arm is fine. It'll scrape off when the bushing goes in.
Not on the rubber Rob. A couple drops of motor oil on the metal sleeve or inside the hole in the arm to help them slide into the control arm is fine. It'll scrape off when the bushing goes in.
#11
#12
If the front clip is off, it's easy - just support the spindle to keep the spring compressed, so you have clearance, unbolt the pivot shaft, push the bolts out to free the shaft, and lift and pivot the upper control arm around 180°, so it's over the spindle, then you've got plenty of room to use a control arm bushing press on it.
When you're done, put it back in position and reattach the pivot shaft.
- Eric
When you're done, put it back in position and reattach the pivot shaft.
- Eric
#15
Actually, Kent Moore already did that. The tools exist to do exactly this. The reality is that if one bushing has gone bad, the others are right behind. Don't kid yourself. Pull the arms, replace them all.
#16
If you have one of these, its easy:
Doing it on the car is more difficult, but still way easier than trying to break the bj's & remove the springs.
However, as Joe mentioned, if ones shot, they are likely all shot, best to replace them all.
Still helps to have the right tools though. The one posted above is called an "upper control arm bushing service tool" - its not a BJ press, notice the forked end that fits over the crossshaft. Makes pressing them In & Out a snap.
No need to make a spacer to keep the ears from collapsing, and no need to F up the arms by using an air chisel to knock the bushings out.
a few rental places have them... I bought one for $70 as i seem to wind up helping different friends re-do their cars suspension every year or so. Plus i just like having cool tools.
Doing it on the car is more difficult, but still way easier than trying to break the bj's & remove the springs.
However, as Joe mentioned, if ones shot, they are likely all shot, best to replace them all.
Still helps to have the right tools though. The one posted above is called an "upper control arm bushing service tool" - its not a BJ press, notice the forked end that fits over the crossshaft. Makes pressing them In & Out a snap.
No need to make a spacer to keep the ears from collapsing, and no need to F up the arms by using an air chisel to knock the bushings out.
a few rental places have them... I bought one for $70 as i seem to wind up helping different friends re-do their cars suspension every year or so. Plus i just like having cool tools.
Last edited by RAMBOW; April 20th, 2012 at 10:48 AM.
#17
Joe,
I just bought the OTC kit off amazon for 79$ it looks to be pretty good quality, I plan on Doing ballpoints on 3 cars this summer so it was worth it for me.
Plus it's going to help me with my bushings, and when hopefully I can buy a mid 60's 442 someday.
Cheers,
Tony
I just bought the OTC kit off amazon for 79$ it looks to be pretty good quality, I plan on Doing ballpoints on 3 cars this summer so it was worth it for me.
Plus it's going to help me with my bushings, and when hopefully I can buy a mid 60's 442 someday.
Cheers,
Tony
#18
If you have one of these, its easy:
Doing it on the car is more difficult, but still way easier than trying to break the bj's & remove the springs.
However, as Joe mentioned, if ones shot, they are likely all shot, best to replace them all.
Still helps to have the right tools though. The one posted above is called an "upper control arm bushing service tool" - its not a BJ press, notice the forked end that fits over the crossshaft. Makes pressing them In & Out a snap.
No need to make a spacer to keep the ears from collapsing, and no need to F up the arms by using an air chisel to knock the bushings out.
a few rental places have them... I bought one for $70 as i seem to wind up helping different friends re-do their cars suspension every year or so. Plus i just like having cool tools.
Doing it on the car is more difficult, but still way easier than trying to break the bj's & remove the springs.
However, as Joe mentioned, if ones shot, they are likely all shot, best to replace them all.
Still helps to have the right tools though. The one posted above is called an "upper control arm bushing service tool" - its not a BJ press, notice the forked end that fits over the crossshaft. Makes pressing them In & Out a snap.
No need to make a spacer to keep the ears from collapsing, and no need to F up the arms by using an air chisel to knock the bushings out.
a few rental places have them... I bought one for $70 as i seem to wind up helping different friends re-do their cars suspension every year or so. Plus i just like having cool tools.
#19
There's no need to buy these tools.
Parts store chains, like Advance Auto Parts will "rent" them to you for free, whether you buy your parts from them or not.
Free is my favorite price .
- Eric
Parts store chains, like Advance Auto Parts will "rent" them to you for free, whether you buy your parts from them or not.
Free is my favorite price .
- Eric
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