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Well, I turned 61 years old today, so just sitting around doing nothing, I thought I'd tackle this dreaded job since I had bought the bushings a few months back and they were just sitting on a shelf. I started this morning and just now finished the driver's side. Took me all day. I gotta say this is a job for a younger man. I'm aching all over. lol. The absolute hardest part for me was reinstalling the bolt through the trailing arm and the new bushings. Gonna rest a week before I tackle the passenger side. ha!
I feel your pain. Next time take some Advil liqugels. Then start on it. 💪
I had put this off for over a year, but recently I noticed the car wasn't tracking right. Rear end would shimmy when I let off the gas. The rubber in the old bushings was gone.
Well, I turned 61 years old today, so just sitting around doing nothing, I thought I'd tackle this dreaded job since I had bought the bushings a few months back and they were just sitting on a shelf. I started this morning and just now finished the driver's side. Took me all day. I gotta say this is a job for a younger man. I'm aching all over. lol. The absolute hardest part for me was reinstalling the bolt through the trailing arm and the new bushings. Gonna rest a week before I tackle the passenger side. ha!
When you tackle the other side do this. Use some fishing line. Tie it to the hole in bolt and pull it through the hole from inside to outside. It works like a charm.
When you tackle the other side do this. Use some fishing line. Tie it to the hole in bolt and pull it through the hole from inside to outside. It works like a charm.
I had to laugh when you complained of pain at 61 . Heck man , your just a kid . Wait until your old like some of us and still trying to work under the dash on a C3.
After you install the new bushing make sure the bolt slides thru easy enough.....I had to run a drill bit thru one side of mine because the two sides were off just ever so slightly.
I have used the fishing line before ,but this last time[two days ago] I used a long nose pair of vise grips.The passenger side is the hardest because of the fuel lines.cleaning up everything and putting on paint I had it done in five hours.The one thing I would recommend is good lighting.
I'm putting off doing the passenger side for a different reason. The bolt is rusted fast and when I tried to loosen it a couple months a go, I spent all day soaking with solvent/rust remover and beating on the bolt with bigger an bigger hammers. Hopefully the solvent has worked its magic now. Main reason to remove it is the PO has the alignment shims all fxxxd up so it is toed out and the right wheel steers the car like a hook and ladder fire truck. I did the driver side without too much trouble. Passenger side must be jinxed.
They might not be hardened but cutting them is by far the worst thing I have had to do to my 72 and I have had the dash out twice. That said once I found the correct blade it made the job at least tolerable.
Forget penetrating oils, etc. The bolt is seized with rust and nothing will penetrate it. The sawzall will cut right through the shims and down through the bolt. Took me about 15 minutes per side. No sense waiting hours/days to realize penetrating oils don't work.
Forget penetrating oils, etc. The bolt is seized with rust and nothing will penetrate it. The sawzall will cut right through the shims and down through the bolt. Took me about 15 minutes per side. No sense waiting hours/days to realize penetrating oils don't work.
I used PB Blaster penetrating oil. I still had four hours of fun cutting them out with a Sawzall.
Take 2 Motrin BEFORE you start work on the car; you'll be glad you did.
P.S. I've got you covered by more than 10 years.
That's good advice. This Mississippi summer heat is part of what whooped me. The humidity down here right now is brutal and my shop ain't air conditioned. I still have fun tinkering with the car even if I move a little slower now. I'm trying to get everything ready for the Delta River Cruise In at Sam's Town casino in Tunica, Ms in September. Wife and I try to attend that every year. Always have a good time. After that it'll be Cruisin' the Coast.
The guys are correct.....use a sawsall/reciprocating saw with a quality blade. Run the saw at half speed or less....it will cut better and the blade will last a bit longer.
The big hammer won't do much until the bolt is cut off....
then you can drive the remaiing bolt out with a punch and the big hammer LOL.........
use a pair of vice-grip pliers to hold the punch---your fingers will appreciate it!
That's good advice. This Mississippi summer heat is part of what whooped me. The humidity down here right now is brutal and my shop ain't air conditioned. I still have fun tinkering with the car even if I move a little slower now. I'm trying to get everything ready for the Delta River Cruise In at Sam's Town casino in Tunica, Ms in September. Wife and I try to attend that every year. Always have a good time. After that it'll be Cruisin' the Coast.
I hurt for two days after doing mine .being on your knees and in strange postions for a few hours ,it will bother most people.The good part is its done ,you did it your self and you saved money.
08-14-2017, 06:31 PM
Whew! Trailing arm bushings.
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