Tailing Arm Bushings

[DeanHensler]

Question 1. Where do you buy trailing arm bushings? I went to my local parts store today and they couldn't find them. They only have control arm bushings for the front. I need the drivers side lower trailing arm bushings.

Question 2. How do you install the new bushing? I got the old one out, but trying to figure out how to get the new one in. Does this require a special tool?

 

[Fox80]

Rock Auto list the rears seperate, if you got the old one out including the sleeve that is the hard part. Just be carefull not to crush the control arm when you install the new ones

 

[DeanHensler]

Thanks for the answer to #1.

Answer to #2?

 

[clean8485]

For the answer to #2, I'd check with a local machine shop, to see if they can press the new bushings in for you. As Fox 80 has pointed out though, they need to be careful, as its possible to damage the trailing arm in the process. Hope this helps.

 

[Doug213xrj]

I replaced the rear control are bushings on both the 81 Malibu and 78 El Camino with Energy suspension # 3-3132G . I used a air hammer to remove them a ball joint press may work better and a BFH to install them. Place a chunk of wood or cut a piece of exhaust tubing and place it so the control arm doesnt collapse.


Doug

 

[afm79malibu]

I just started replacing bushings etc. on a 79 Malibu wagon and plan on doing all the bushings front, rear, upper, lower and the ball joints. Finished the body bushings and now on rear lower control arms. What is a good way to remove and install the bushings. I have a 4" vise, torch, a fairly BFH. I beat the olds out but had no success driving the new ones in. thanks

 

[Longroof79]

If I recall, I was able to remove mine by drilling holes around the rubber portion of the bushing. Then using a hammer and chisel and air chisel, I collapsed the outer shell and drove them out. To install new bushings, I brought the arms to a local machine shop and had them pressed in...no muss, no fuss. He had all 4 pressed in in a matter of minutes while I waited. I don't recommend using the BFH method of removing or installing them.

 

[DeanHensler]

I just did this a couple months ago and once you know how to do it and have the right tools, it is really easy. Here's the procedure.

1. Drill out the rubber part of the bushing with a 5/16ths bit as shown in this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3JfM_gbzkA It is VERY easy. if you walk the bit around as shown in the video. Now, the shell of the bushing might not come out as easy as shown in this video. I beat the hell out of my with a BFM and it wasn't coming out. See step 2 for how to get this out if the hammer doesn't make it come out easily.

2. Get a hack saw or sawzaw and cut the shell of the bushing. Be careful not to cut into the control arm itself, just cut enough that it gets through the shell of the bushing. Now hammer it out and it will come out very easily. I couldn't believe how easily mine came out once I cut the bushing shell and relieved the pressure.

3. Borrow a control arm bushing tool from your local parts store. Most will lend this tool out for 48 hours for no cost. It should look like a big C Clamp with some different pieces to it as shown here. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sps-40910?seid=srese1&gclid=CInNtZ_Fg74CFYZAMgod-lcAJA

4. If you're changing the bushing on a control arm (either front or rear ones) you'll need to fabricate something to go in between the arm where the bushing sets, otherwise the c clamp will try to collapse it. I just took a piece of 2 inch wide by 1/8 thick flat steel, cut it into a strip about 4 inches long and bent it into a half circle. Then I gently hammered it into place around the bushing, giving each side of the control arm support so it wouldn't collapse when I torqued down the c clamp.

5. Put the bushing in place with your hand, then put the C Clamp on it with the correct size pieces to press the bushing in place. Torque the C Clamp until the bushing is fully seated.

6. Remove the C Claip and hammer out your custom made spacer. You're all done!

The key things I learned that made this REALLY easy were step 1, 2 and 4. Step 1 and 2 make it really easy to get the bushing out, which can be a pain in the *ss if done the wrong way. This shouldn't require that you beat the hell out of the control arm and possibly damage it. Either it'll come right out, or you have to cut it, then it will come right out. Step 4 is essential to getting the new bushing in there correctly without damaging your control arm. If you follow these steps you should be able to change each bushing in about 15 minutes.

 

[pontiacgp]

I place the greased bushings in the freezer for a day or 2 before I install the bushing and heat up the control arm when I'm ready to install the bushings......it's works quicker and better with dry ice if you can get some