Lower control arm bushing replacement?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Shoemakersville Pa
Lower control arm bushing replacement?
Tried to press my control arm bushings out yesterday on my 69 BB. What a PITA. Im pretty sure they were never replaced before. Did anyone ever get these out without heating them up with a torch?
Thats what I had to do burn the rubbers out then heat up the bushing sleeve to finally hammer them out. Whats the best way to put the new poly bushing in after I clean everything up?
Thats what I had to do burn the rubbers out then heat up the bushing sleeve to finally hammer them out. Whats the best way to put the new poly bushing in after I clean everything up?
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,312
Likes: 70
From: Clearwater FL
If you ever have to do this again, use an air hammer w/a chissle end. Using a press to press them out can be a nightmare. The poly should go in rather easy. Use locktite on the bolts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,855
Likes: 2
From: Grovetown GA
Originally Posted by GDaina
Poly's will go in easy, almost a slip fit. The rubber bushings are a different matter
I have upper and lower a-arms out and getting ready to remove old bushings and put in new polygraphite ones. My replacement set includes the bushing.
I am going to get a press to assist in this job (and others) but wondering if a 12 ton press will do the job? I know I will need one to press out/in the lower ball joints.
Any info appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
I used a press for the first couple sets I've done ... never again.
It's too easy to bend the arms with a press. There are much better techniques.
Heat with torch to get metal expanded then air chisel to pop them out.
Clean the bores lightly with sandpaper and apply some grease.
Use a BF hammer and a BF socket to hammer them back in.
Don't believe me ... then here:
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/HowtoRebuildFrontEnd.doc
It's too easy to bend the arms with a press. There are much better techniques.
Heat with torch to get metal expanded then air chisel to pop them out.
Clean the bores lightly with sandpaper and apply some grease.
Use a BF hammer and a BF socket to hammer them back in.
Don't believe me ... then here:
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/HowtoRebuildFrontEnd.doc
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Originally Posted by varkwso
I have upper and lower a-arms out and getting ready to remove old bushings and put in new polygraphite ones. My replacement set includes the bushing.
I am going to get a press to assist in this job (and others) but wondering if a 12 ton press will do the job? I know I will need one to press out/in the lower ball joints.
Any info appreciated.
I am going to get a press to assist in this job (and others) but wondering if a 12 ton press will do the job? I know I will need one to press out/in the lower ball joints.
Any info appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,855
Likes: 2
From: Grovetown GA
Originally Posted by gator79
you do not need a press for the lower ball joints, just an air chisel and a drill to drill out the rivets. poly bushings do slide in but mine came with sleeves and those had to be pressed or beat with a BFH back in.
Lower control arm does not have any rivets for the ball joint - the upper ball joint is riveted in though.
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by NHvette
Don't believe me ... then here:
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/HowtoRebuildFrontEnd.doc
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/HowtoRebuildFrontEnd.doc
Good to see Lars' method on corvettefaq. I followed it but I also had to burn out the rubber and heat the rivets with my torch to get them out. My new rubber bushings went in easily.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
If you're replacing CA bushings w/poly (NOT rubber) ... and your old metal outer shells are ok ... you do not need to press anything in or out. Simply hog out the rubber with a hole saw-penknife ... if old metal inner sleeve stuck on shaft, drive it off w/ a drift/chisel. Buff the shaft ends w/ wire wheel. Clean all rubber from outer shells. Slide the new poly bushings into old outer shells using lotsa silicone grease, drive the new metal inner sleeves onto shaft ends & into new poly using lotsa silicone grease. Clean out bolt holes in shaft ends w/ aerosol carb cleaner & compressed air. Reinstall cleaned end bolts w/ loctite. Lotsa folks have used this method w/ no problem ... me too ... and no press ... reused old metal outer shells w/ new poly. This method only works when replacing with poly ... not if replacing w/ rubber. I did it with Van Steel's poly kit (afaik energy suspension poly bushings) some 5 years ago.
-edit-I bought the hole saw at local home improvement store for about $7 ... before I chucked into drill motor I removed the hole saw's pilot drill bit from the hole saw's arbor.
-edit-I bought the hole saw at local home improvement store for about $7 ... before I chucked into drill motor I removed the hole saw's pilot drill bit from the hole saw's arbor.
Last edited by jackson; Jan 17, 2006 at 10:26 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Durham NC
Another method that I used recently is a drill press on the rubber bushing, then hammer and chisel to get the sleeve out.
For the ball joints, I used a dremmel with a cutting stone to grind the heads of the rivets off, then drilled into the rivets to weaken them, THEN the BFH to seperate the ball joints from the arms. Followed, of course, by a couple of beers......
For the ball joints, I used a dremmel with a cutting stone to grind the heads of the rivets off, then drilled into the rivets to weaken them, THEN the BFH to seperate the ball joints from the arms. Followed, of course, by a couple of beers......
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Originally Posted by jackson
If you're replacing CA bushings w/poly (NOT rubber) ... and your old metal outer shells are ok ... you do not need to press anything in or out. Simply hog out the rubber with a hole saw-penknife ... if old metal inner sleeve stuck on shaft, drive it off w/ a drift/chisel. Buff the shaft ends w/ wire wheel. Clean all rubber from outer shells. Slide the new poly bushings into old outer shells using lotsa silicone grease, drive the new metal inner sleeves onto shaft ends & into new poly using lotsa silicone grease. Clean out bolt holes in shaft ends w/ aerosol carb cleaner & compressed air. Reinstall cleaned end bolts w/ loctite. Lotsa folks have used this method w/ no problem ... me too ... and no press ... reused old metal outer shells w/ new poly. This method only works when replacing with poly ... not if replacing w/ rubber. I did it with Van Steel's poly kit (afaik energy suspension poly bushings) some 5 years ago.
-edit-I bought the hole saw at local home improvement store for about $7 ... before I chucked into drill motor I removed the hole saw's pilot drill bit from the hole saw's arbor.
-edit-I bought the hole saw at local home improvement store for about $7 ... before I chucked into drill motor I removed the hole saw's pilot drill bit from the hole saw's arbor.
