TankerVette

After installing the CB, am getting bold...

Wanting to put Energy Suspension bushings in the front control arms... (and beyond...)

1. Is there any way to get the lower control arm off without buying the GM spring compression tool?
2. What fear factor should I have in doing this mod? :eek: I have access to a press, so I am not too worried about getting the old bushings out. I am still afraid of the actual disassembly/assembly...

From a previous post, I have gotten the feeling that this is something I want to do...

mash557

High dollar GM spring tool not needed. I changed my spring and after getting car on jack stands, removed front wheels, swaybar end links. Put floor jack under outer end of the lower control arm and jack up high enough to take the tension off the shock. Remove the lower shock mount (or entire shock) and slowly let the jack down. when the suspension stops moving, the tension should be off the spring. You might want to leave the jack in place with a little pressure on as you split the ball joints just to be safe, then let it down and you should be good to go. Assembly the reverse of disassembly. I definitely encourage the partaking of refreshing adult beverages to after spring tension is removed. :lol:

TankerVette

many thanks, doesn't sound too bad, then.
Paitence and beer...

BIG JIM 54

I've thought about this as well but other projects have priorities. I haven't done this yet as I said and I could be wrong but aren't the ball-joints riveted together and don't you have to grind the rivet heads off to split them then find bolts and nuts to put them back together? If so, it's more of a job than getting the spring tool, IMO.

BIG JIM

AGENT 86

No grinding required. A puller makes easy work of it. :cheers:

CentralCoaster

You don't have to remove the ball joints from the control arms. you could try using the spring force to pull them out of the knuckle if you find a way to jack up the hub/spindle/knuckle.

Or, just get a puller tool, and pop em out. You can get the spring out without removing the lower ball joints... either by pulling it out underneath the control arm, or twisting it out from above. Either way, you'll need to get that car wayyy up in the air, especially if you don't have the z51 spring.

Raistlin

I did poly bushing and lowering at the same time. you have to remove the control arms to do the bushings. I followed my haynes manual for the process on removing the lower control arms and spring. I had the car on jack stands, but needed to jack the front higher to remove the spring. I didn't remove the ball joints.

I just used a puller, drill and bench vise for the bushings.