control arm bushings, how do you remove them

[tobyp]

So today I am out in my shop enjoying the great weather Sunday afternoon.....Bengals are winning, got a beer, working on the 442 and so I decide today is the day to remove the control arm bushings and get the control arms sand blasted and powder coated.

Great intentions......

So, air chisel.....nope
Hammer, nope
Heat, air chisel, hammer, nope.
PB Blaster, nope
Freezer, air chisel, hammer, nope
Sawzall through the middle...ruined a lennox rescue blade....so, nope
Cutoff wheel....wouldnt go all the way through, nope
Plasma cutter...YES!!! but OMG what a mess, fire, stench!


What tricks has anyone else out there used to get these damn things out?

 

[TODoubleD]

a shop press =]

 

[85GPLef41]

x2.... I tried to do them at home and what a PAIN!! I managed to get the bushings out but the shells still were stuck in i cut the shells with a hacksaw blade and chiseled them in to remove them. Took forever :? So i took them to work and pressed them out and used my air hammer to collapse the shells. I also used the press to reinstall them. I want to get one for my garage now...

 

[FE3X CLONE]

x3. I just take them to my machine shop to have them pressed out. He usually does it while I'm standing there and doesn't charge me for it.

 

[455'ed80Regal]

I used my air chisel on mine. First I collapse the bushing sleeve right against the control arm to make it easier to drive out. One of the bushing sleeves is flared on one end so you need to collapse this area also. Made two spacers to fit between both sides of the control arm so I wouldn't collapse it when I pressed in the new ones. Used my ball joint press to press the new ones in. Took me longer to make the spacers than to knock out the old bushings.