Hey wassup my name is Chauncey and i have a 1982 Monte carlo and i need to change the bushings on my Upper control arm on each side im kinda new too it , but i have some knowledge ? Do i have to have a compression tool ? Is their a way i can remove the upper control arm without removing the spindal and rotor and what not? Any tips or tricks up anybodies sleeve please feel free to let me kno i have to do this asap Thanks.
Upper control Arm's
- Thread starter LilByron29081
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This is one of those things that if it were me, and I was going the far into things I would go ahead and do all new bushings and ball joints. You're going to have everything apart anyway and if the upper control arm bushings are that bad then the lowers are probably not in the best shape either.
I've also found it much, much easier to just remove the control arms and take them down to my local machine shop and let them remove and install the new bushings as well as press in new lower ball joints. However I'm lucky in that I've done a lot of business with them over the years so something like this they usually don't charge me anything or tops maybe $20.
You don't really need a spring compressor to remove the springs. You can place a hydraulic jack under the lower control arm, disconnect everything, back off the ball joint nuts but leave them on so that you can let the spring pressure pop them out of the spindle, then remove the nuts and slowly lower the jack until the spring falls out. It's a good idea to wrap a chain, wire cable, etc. through the spring and around the frame for safety in case it does want to come flying out at you.
To reinstall you can just reverse the procedure. I know many that haven't used a spring compressor to reinstall a spring either and were able to just jack everything back up into place but I've usually installed a stiffer spring and a compressor was mandatory as the jack usually just started to pick the car up before compressing the spring enough to get the upper ball joint seating in the spindle.
I've also found it much, much easier to just remove the control arms and take them down to my local machine shop and let them remove and install the new bushings as well as press in new lower ball joints. However I'm lucky in that I've done a lot of business with them over the years so something like this they usually don't charge me anything or tops maybe $20.
You don't really need a spring compressor to remove the springs. You can place a hydraulic jack under the lower control arm, disconnect everything, back off the ball joint nuts but leave them on so that you can let the spring pressure pop them out of the spindle, then remove the nuts and slowly lower the jack until the spring falls out. It's a good idea to wrap a chain, wire cable, etc. through the spring and around the frame for safety in case it does want to come flying out at you.
To reinstall you can just reverse the procedure. I know many that haven't used a spring compressor to reinstall a spring either and were able to just jack everything back up into place but I've usually installed a stiffer spring and a compressor was mandatory as the jack usually just started to pick the car up before compressing the spring enough to get the upper ball joint seating in the spindle.
FYI, RockAuto carries brand new Dorman upper control arms, fully dressed with bushings, shaft and riveted in ball joint for $53/side. Hard to beat that by rebuilding the old ones. I just received a pair for my GN and they look like good quality pieces.
MeanBuicks said:
Very good point. I was going to mention that but I checked Advance Auto Parts website and they were wanting $142 per side for theirs. At that rate you'd almost be better off looking at aftermarket uppers. But for $53/side you just can't beat that. It would really help shorten the down time for the car.
Thanks thats what we plan on doing just redoing the whole front suspension bushings and ball joints and sway bar bushings befor i go to college in 2 months thanks you guys!!!!!!!!
I am about to do mine also on my 86 supreme. I got the pair off off rock auto for $100 for the set. I redid the whole steering linkages sway bar bushings etc... i was a good project with my kids. They love turning wrenches. Next topic they have is who is the car going to belong to when i dont want it anymore... ( which is never) :lol: good luck on yours and keep us posted on how it comes out.
williamattop said:
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?ck[ID]=0&ck[idlist]=0&ck[viewcurrency]=USD&ck[PHP_SESSION_ID]=q8h8glvpmkvjs7gf1tugb9pq05
try this one
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