Lower control arm bushing removal.....
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
Lower control arm bushing removal.....
I need some advice on removing the bushing. Looks like heck to get out. Also how do you remove the bar that's running across to both bushings. I'm a newbie at this. Advice and pics appreciated!
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 106
Likes: 2
From: Pullman WA
Probably not the answer you're looking for, but I took mine to the local machine shop and had them push them out and push the new ones back in. The labor fees were minimal, and they have all the right tools to make it an easy job.
Plus I had them sandblast them while all the bushings were out, which really cleaned them up! I then put POR-15 on them.
Plus I had them sandblast them while all the bushings were out, which really cleaned them up! I then put POR-15 on them.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
You can burn the old rubber bushings out with a propane torch. It's messy and smelly but it does work. You have to remove the bushing shells to get the bar out. Some people use an air chisel, or they can be pressed out, or you can carefully hacksaw through the side of the shell and collapse it with a hammer and chisel. I chose the hacksaw method because I was banging the arm up too much trying to use an air chisel.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
From: Near Round Top (pop. 90) Texas
I used a $90 press I bought at Harbor Freight to press the old out and the new in, and I get to keep the press for other things. Works great. Good value.
Here is the link.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=4711
Here is the link.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=4711
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
I used a drill and a screwdriver. Drill out the bushing as much as you can and use a screwdriver to start pushing the rest out.
I then used a hacksaw to saw into the outer metal tube to create some reliefs that would allow me to cold chisel and 3lb hammer away that piece from the arm. No damage to the arm was done with this method.
For install, if your going rubber, put them in a freezer for a few days to shrink them, then when you go to install them, use some motor assembly lube on the bushing, put your arm in a vise and use a large socket to hammer them in. No press is needed and you wont distort the arms and you wont have to pay anyone anything to get the job done.
I used black epoxy paint from the Home Depot to paint them up. This stuff stinks bad and takes overnight to dry.
I then used a hacksaw to saw into the outer metal tube to create some reliefs that would allow me to cold chisel and 3lb hammer away that piece from the arm. No damage to the arm was done with this method.
For install, if your going rubber, put them in a freezer for a few days to shrink them, then when you go to install them, use some motor assembly lube on the bushing, put your arm in a vise and use a large socket to hammer them in. No press is needed and you wont distort the arms and you wont have to pay anyone anything to get the job done.
I used black epoxy paint from the Home Depot to paint them up. This stuff stinks bad and takes overnight to dry.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
air chisel . took me seconds. once you get one of the metal sleeves out you can pull the cross bar out. remember to put the crossbar back in before you press both new bushings in. i made that mistake once.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
