Lower Control Arm Bushing Removal

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Jun 30, 2008 | 12:54 PM

68/70Vette

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Team Owner

Joined: Jul 2004

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From: Redondo Beach, California

Lower Control Arm Bushing Removal

Any suggestions? The outer sleeve of the lower control arm bushings has a lip, which when the bushing is installed, is pretty much flush to the control arm surface. I removed my upper bushings using a chisel attachment on my impact hammer. (As suggested by Lars) The upper busings have the outer sleeve lip perhaps 1/4 inch away from the control arm so you can get the chisel tip in there and push them out. For the lowers, I'm afraid of damaging the control arm surfaces since I'll have to wedge the chisel between the control arm surface and the inside of the outer sleeve lip. I did try, another forum suggestion, using a 1 1/8 hole saw to drill out the rubber portion of the bushing. I was only partially successful. A lot of the rubber is still in there.

Any more suggestions? I'd like to use the proper tools shown in the service manual, but apparently the Kent Moore tools for this aren't sold anymore. The service manual shows a press being used to push the bushings out. The tooling prevents the press from distorting and bending the control arms.

Jun 30, 2008 | 12:57 PM

lars

Tech Contributor

Joined: Aug 1999

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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado

I use the air chisel on all 4 control arms - haven't damaged one yet...

Jun 30, 2008 | 12:59 PM

bonehead2

Racer

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 452

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From: Southern Md

I second the air chisel method, works just fine.

Jun 30, 2008 | 01:01 PM

bmotojoe

Safety Car

Joined: Oct 2007

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From: Seattle Area Washington

I took my control arms outside and with a small propane torch burned the rubber out. It smoke’s like heck but it gave me enough room after to use my air chisel to remove what was left of the bushing.

Jun 30, 2008 | 03:56 PM

jackson

Le Mans Master

Joined: Sep 2001

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From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina

poly only: does Not apply to rubber

If you're going back w/ polyurethane bushings (not rubber) ... no need to remove metal outer shells ... hog out old rubber & pry out old metal inner sleeves ... replace new poly bushing & new metal inner sleeve into old outer shells. New poly bushing ASSEMBLIES are Not bonded like rubber. Poly pops apart with finger pressure ... allowing the pick & choose above. I hogged out my old rubber using a penknife & a $7 hole saw with no arbor bit & repalced w/energy suspension cab assemblies' parts. Method proven out long ago. That for poly only.

Jun 30, 2008 | 05:43 PM

thegazman

Drifting

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 1,305

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From: Lewisburg WV

thegazman

I used my air chisel and it worked well on all A-arm bushing removal. I discovered an easy way to install new bushing. When I was a kid my Dad used to install new piston sleeves in tractor engines by freezing them. The frozen sleeve would drop right into the engine and become tight as it warmed. I tried the same procedure with my polyurethane bushings. Take the frozen bushing out of the freezer...tap the bushing lightly and it will drop right into the A-arm with very little effort. As the bushing warms up it becomes tight.

Jun 30, 2008 | 05:56 PM

mdbelanger

Instructor

Joined: Jun 2007

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From: Unlisted

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmotojoe

Second that, do it on a buggy night and enjoy the barby with stakes and a few beers. You'll feel like ya got something major done.

Jul 1, 2008 | 01:14 AM

AKruizer

Advanced

Joined: Apr 2007

Posts: 99

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From: Wasilla Alaska

Didn't have the right sized hole saw so I just swiss-cheesed the old bushings with a small drill bit. Then with the cross shaft in the vice and moving the control arm 180* back and forth they broke apart and worked right out. Figured that out on the second control arm and it took about 10 minutes.

I won't say how long in #$(* with the first one