NewbVetteGuy

I got to do a little bit of rust remediation inside the engine bay this weekend and just hitting everything with some high pressure air made most of the rubber bushings of my driver's side control arm go flying out. -They're in absolutely TERRIBLE shape.

I've only started to investigate removing and rebuilding the control arms and WOW, it looks like a whole lot of pain. -VTech charges $850 plus two way shipping for them to rebuild a set so I'm assuming that this is pretty painful.

I don't have a hydraulic press and drilling out rivets sound like the kind of thing I could majorly screw up. How doable is this?

Are there obvious upgrades that should be made at this point?
-Jegs has upper control arms that are adjustable brand new for $193 each and whatever these are for $242 each....
https://www.jegs.com/i/Specialty-Pro...619f35fb0b1ef4

https://www.jegs.com/i/Specialty-Pro...5b72803a767f17


Adam

Big2Bird

I just have to say in High School I bought a new one at a dealer for $32.00

It's just basic skills. Not rocket science.
Grind the heads off the rivets. Use a air chisel to knock out the bushings.

Use a spreader when knocking them back in. It's all the the shop manual.

jackson

this thread
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-bushings.html

jb78L-82

Adam,

I did my OEM control arms upper and lower about 10 years ago and went with poly urethane from prothane...Best thing I ever did to tighten up the handling and steering response but little effect on ride quality.

The upper control arms are relatively easy...just need to remove the upper ball joint from the steering arm spindle, and the 2 nuts holding the cross shaft...this is a simplistic explanation but it is not that hard.

The lower control arm bolts to the frame, requires removal of the lower ball joint, sway bar endlink, shock removal, AND coil spring removal. It is a lot more work and you need to be careful with the spring removal.

I messed around with removing the control arm bushings and pressing in one of the poly ones before deciding it was a ton of work, if you don't have the proper tools. I took the control arms to a local machine shop and had them remove and install the new poly control arm bushings for about $25 per arm or $100 for all 4 control arms plus $50 for the poly control arm bushings, upper and lower. Did the whole deal for about $150 for 4 control arms..lots of labor.

NewbVetteGuy

I have a set of 550 lb VB&P front springs that need to go on and set of Bilstein HD's that need to go on the front anyway. (Remember I'm copying you on that front.)
-I have a machine shop I really like, FINALLY and only 20-30 minutes from my house so if I run into trouble that's a definite possibility.

Any thoughts on Del-A-Lum bushings for stock-style control arms? -I've been looking at the Global West catalog... Looks like I'd need some minor welding done on top of the normal press-in procedure to use them.

Also curious about whether GlobalWest's offset upper a-arm shaft is useful as a general rule or is just for specialty applications?


Adam

jackson

solid bushings for race cars....harsh & noisy

NewbVetteGuy

That thread is fantastic! Thanks!
-I can give the AutoZone bushing remover/installer tool and my impact a try.


Adam

cagotzmann

No need for a press to remove, just burn them out with a propane torch or similar. Clean up the original retainers if in good condition. If using poly the reinstall requires no additional tools / press to install. Did many years ago without any special tools or a press.

jim2527

Metalhead140

I've recently put the del-a-lum bushings in my stock lower arms to go with my global west upper arms. I'm very happy with them, but yes they require a little welding - if you were reading the review on summit, that was me. I don't agree that solid bushings are only for race cars, I drive my car a lot. I think the rubber body mounts on our cars serve to eliminate most of the vibration from the driver anyway.

george2066

i did the same with a torch, then while you are in there, replace the upper shafts with the moog offset ones, but have them machined with a 1/4" slot for more caster Search the threads for the offset arms and modifications

jb78L-82

I have no experience with the solid control arm bushings but very happy with the poly ones from prothane. They have been on now for over 10 years, greased them when installed, and they really tightened up the handling and steering response with little to no decrease in ride quality or any noise......I definitely would not use rubber control arm bushings again because with as much slop there is in the suspensions of these cars, anything and everything you can do to tighten the suspension pivot points is a big bonus......

ddawson

I removed mine and brought them to a local corvette shop who sandblasted and pressed in new bushings.

It only cost me $100 for the labor.

BLUE1972

I took mine to a local shop that has a press and the tools. I also trust their work. I got the Moog replacements from Rock Auto - get the problem solvers for the top swivel .

Cost me $125 and some bagels. They even painted them black for me.

cooper9811

Adam

If you are still interested in the Global West arms with Delrin or Delarum bushings, see this thread I started last summer:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...one-thing.html

Post 21 is probably the most important one, especially if you use the 550-lb springs instead of stock. You have to change out the A-arm spring seat that comes with the arms - I think part #4013,but call Global West to confirm.

Bottom line, I would do it again - but l most things with these cars, you need to go into it armed with some information, and the understanding that very few things are a straight-forward bolt in. Before doing this, I had stock arms with 550-lb springs, Bilstiens, Heim jointed strut rods and a (I think) 360-lb composite rear spring. new arms and composite bushings offer a lot more castor and very little flex in the front - The handling is night and day better (it was good before) - my 79 really sticks to the road now!

jb78L-82

Cooper, I read your post on the global west control arms and sounds like they really improved the handling.

I have currently 550 front coils, 1 inch shorter than stock, poly upper and lower control arms in front, 1 1/8 OEM front sway bar OEM with poly endlink and mounting bushings, a Speedirect spreader bar, Bilstein HD shock in front only with poly bushings, and a custom blue printed/rebuilt OEM GM steering box by GTR1999. All new Moog balljoints as well with 255/45/17 ZR ultra high performance summer only tires and my car steerings and handles like on rails. Did you have rubber control arm bushings before you went with the global West arms and how much of the handling improvement was from the solid bushings versus the additional caster in the arms? My car is pretty impressive now and wondering if the Global West arms would help?

Dennis Tapp

Big2Bird

I was interested till I read they weigh more than stock.

I wish the Speed Direct ones were forged instead of cast.

slofut

Use the air chisel to get the old bushings out, really ...literally a five minute job to get them all out. Or you can spend all sorts of time burning and drilling and repainting.

Dennis Tapp