control arm bushings
- Thread starter Brad
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what ya need to do is go to your local auto parts store and buy one of these:
then follow the instructions.
then follow the instructions.
Better yet, buy a CSM (Chassis Service Manual) for your year car. It makes the Chilton or any other book look like a coloring book. 😉
if your a newbie to working on cars, i personally prefer the haynes manual as it spells everything out more.
and if you're a newbie, do not do the bushings w/out experienced help. pulling the lower arm is very dangerous (rather, pulling the spring is dangerous but...)
it should take about (in a driveway with basic tools) 4-6hrs. on a lift and/or with full tools, 2-3hrs. btw, i'm assuming the front bushings, not the rear.
one tip on the lowers.--when reassembling, leave the bolts loose, then lower the car onto something solid, but that's tall enough to leave you room to get underneath. then bounce the car. you may even want to have someone sit on the hood. you want to tighten the bushings down when the LCA's are parallel to the car/ground.
and if you're a newbie, do not do the bushings w/out experienced help. pulling the lower arm is very dangerous (rather, pulling the spring is dangerous but...)
it should take about (in a driveway with basic tools) 4-6hrs. on a lift and/or with full tools, 2-3hrs. btw, i'm assuming the front bushings, not the rear.
one tip on the lowers.--when reassembling, leave the bolts loose, then lower the car onto something solid, but that's tall enough to leave you room to get underneath. then bounce the car. you may even want to have someone sit on the hood. you want to tighten the bushings down when the LCA's are parallel to the car/ground.
As for the tools you need a spring compressor, jack stands, jack, a tie rod & balljoint fork and hand tools.... to take off the bushings i used a drill and drilled out the bushings and then used a hack saw to cut out the shells very carefully. I then used a hammer and punch to finish removing the shells. Thats about it in a nutshell. i think you need a press to install the new ones. Its been since thanksgiving since i started...... :lol: I am getting my a-arms powder coated now as well as the spindles. If your going to go through all that work you might as well replace the bushings AND balljoints with high quality parts.
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