chrismoore701

I lost the front upper bushing on my passenger control arm. i am guessing I have to pull the whole thing out. I have everything out except the control arm. Ordered the bushing tonight. If I pull this out and keep the shims in order will I have to go back for an alignment? Just had it aligned within the last two years.

pop23235

Please define "lost the bushing". Rubber failed? Bolt missing and bushing actually not there?
That will help with answer. I'd be surprised if the inner and/or outer steel part of the bushing is gone.

chrismoore701

I changed out the bushings last year and apparently, I say apparently because I do want to believe it, but I forgot to tighten the bolts. Driver side was finger tight, passenger side is gone. Bolt, retaining washer, and rubber part of the bushing. Sleeve is still in the control arm. Luckily I only put about 50 miles on the car last year.

Frankie the Fink

Seriously ? You're worried about a $70 alignment ?

If it had been my alignment guy he would have spotted that loose bushing in two seconds and told me about it.

Replace the bushing, take it to an 'old school' alignment shop and have him look over your work..you were lucky once, maybe not twice..

pop23235

Only way I know to get the outer sleeve out and a new bushing in without damage is to remove the A arm. That would require alignment. This may be done without removal, but The bushing is pressed into the A arm, and I don't see how to do that in place.

chrismoore701

So this seems to be a very interesting bit of information. I recently replaced all the rubber with polyurethane bushings. Apparently they are known to cause the bolt to back out. I plan to go out and buy all new bolts and lock washers and use some lock-tight. Anybody else experience this issue? Anything else I should do? I just did the same thing on my 79 Chevy truck, will be checking and replacing all these bolts as well

leif.anderson93

I recently had an upper control arm bushing retainer bolt back out, as well. Nothing catastrophic, as the bushing is press fitted in. I removed all four upper bolts (none were torqued correctly), applied Loctite 242 and re-intalled bolts and lock washers...torqued to 40 lb ft. It is my understanding that this is an item you need to check occasionally, if you drive your car (not a garage star). The Loctite should prevent future back-outs but I will still check them semi-annually...too easy not to

GUSTO14

Did the poly insert only come out, or did the outer sleeve or inner sleeve also come out?



If the outer sleeve is still in the control arm, I would contact the manufacture of the poly bushings you previously installed and try to purchase a couple of replacement poly bushings. I would use a generous amount of polyurethane bushing grease and see if you couldn't push the new bushing back into the control arm.

It would be helpful if you could post a picture of what you are looking at so we might give you more relevant advice.

Good luck... GUSTO

MOXIE62

What are you guys driving on, old cobble stone roads. I've never had any of that to happen. Locktite seems like an over kill if you have torque all your bolts correctly.

chrismoore701

chrismoore701

The inner sleeve and bushing are gone. I went to the alignment shop and he agreed that the poly bushings can cause the bolt to back up because the bushing is not fused to the sleeves. He gave me a retainer washer and offered to give me a deal on the alignment. New bolts. Lock washers and lock tight or going on. I can't remember where I got the bushings. Ordered a new bushing yesterday. Coming tomorrow

leif.anderson93

Maybe, but it can't hurt. Better safe than sorry...know what I mean

project63

Looks to me like the inner sleeve is still on the shaft...