Help with A arm rebuild???????

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Sep 29, 2002 | 04:38 AM

chadman

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Dec 2000

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From: Mesa AZ

Help with A arm rebuild???????

I'm installing poly bushings in the front of my vette. Any tips on gettin the new sleeves in? Pounding with wood block hasn't worked very well! Anyone found a trick?

Sep 29, 2002 | 06:03 AM

78pace

Burning Brakes

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 854

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From: dudley ma

Re: Help with A arm rebuild??????? (chadman)

when i did mine took them to a shop and had them pressed in :smash:

Sep 29, 2002 | 08:54 PM

Duke94

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 6,640

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From: Ann Arbor Michigan

Re: Help with A arm rebuild??????? (chadman)

You need a hydraulic press or a BIG vise.

Sep 29, 2002 | 10:26 PM

Big Fish

Safety Car

Joined: Jul 2002

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From: St. Charles IL

Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran

A CI-6 Car Show Winner

Re: Help with A arm rebuild??????? (chadman)

I used a couple large C-clamps and forced the little boogers in. It wasn't easy, and you can easily distort the arms if not done correctly. I'd try a dealer or machine shop that might have the special tool that presses them in. A picture of the tool is shown in the GM service manual. :smash:

Sep 29, 2002 | 10:34 PM

jackson

Le Mans Master

Joined: Sep 2001

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From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina

Re: Help with A arm rebuild??????? (chadman)

Quote:

I'm installing poly bushings in the front of my vette. Any tips on gettin the new sleeves in? Pounding with wood block hasn't worked very well! Anyone found a trick?

If you're talking about the outer shells??? Are yours in good shape? If so, why replace? When I did my with energy suspension poly, I just juggled the old rubber out and replaced only the inner sleeve and the poly bushing ... works great. Most of the old rubber will pull out ... I had to use a about 1-1/8" hole saw to ream out some rubber. No vise, no press, ... & no stress on the control arm!

PS ... the inner sleeve is split-design. Once you've got most of the old rubber out, take a thin screwdriver or chisel blade and tap into the split ... it'll open right up and you can easily slide the sleeve off the shaft.

[Modified by jackson, 9:43 PM 9/29/2002]

Sep 30, 2002 | 05:20 AM

chadman

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 422

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From: Mesa AZ

Re: Help with A arm rebuild??????? (jackson)

I already removed the outer shell on one side of the car. Now have trouble gettn the new ones in.

Sep 30, 2002 | 06:02 AM

randy814u

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2001

Posts: 2,320

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From: Salem Oregon

Re: Help with A arm rebuild??????? (chadman)

I broke my big vise doing the 85, so now I have to do the 78.
First order of business was to buy a really big vise.
Works great.. :seeya

Sep 30, 2002 | 08:08 AM

76-L82

Intermediate

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 28

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Re: Help with A arm rebuild??????? (chadman)

I have done Many, from 64 El Caminos-76 L82 Corvette.
Put the complete bushings w/Collors in the freezer over night(Or till you need them).
Emery clothe all burrs and rust off of the A-arms Eye(Where the Collor goes into.
Put bearing grease on the A-arm Eye and the collor and press it any way you can, you will think this is too easy, because frozen metal contracts and the arm is at room tempature out outside in the sune it is more expanded..