C4 Upper A-Arm Rubber Bushing Removal - Tips ???

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jun 19, 2003 | 10:08 AM

Mr6spd

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 1,013

Likes: 9

C4 Upper A-Arm Rubber Bushing Removal - Tips ???

I'm replacing my front suspension bushings with the Global West Del-A-Lum bushings. Any tips on removing the upper A-arm's rubber bushings? I have a press, but it appears that they are not likely to easy to get the bar out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Jun 19, 2003 | 10:19 AM

edsalinas

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 3,424

Likes: 1

From: Tucson Az

St. Jude Contributor

Re: C4 Upper A-Arm Rubber Bushing Removal - Tips ??? (Mr6spd)

If you look closely, I think the front inner washer slides thru the control arm opennings. That should get you there. Be care pressing new ones in, you don't want to squeeze the two arms from the outside of both, support one at a time.

Hope that helps.

:cheers:

Jun 19, 2003 | 02:21 PM

JayH

Racer

Joined: Sep 2002

Posts: 317

Likes: 1

From: Maple Valley WA

Re: C4 Upper A-Arm Rubber Bushing Removal - Tips ??? (Mr6spd)

Burn 'em out with a torch (great smell :U ,) or drill a bunch of small holes in the bushing to remove material and then pry 'em out with a screwdriver.

Jay

Jun 19, 2003 | 02:33 PM

z07lt1

Intermediate

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 43

Likes: 1

From: Morris Plains NJ

Re: C4 Upper A-Arm Rubber Bushing Removal - Tips ??? (Mr6spd)

Be real careful about using heat! Those are heat-treated aluminum parts. I had pretty good luck drilling them out, but you need to be careful to not use too large a drill, or you'll chew up the inside of the A-arms bores.

If you use a press, be sure to place a sturdy brace between the two sides of the A-arm to keep them from squeezing together under press force. It will take LOTS of force to push those suckers out - starting by drilling is a better bet.

Notice that GM sells the whole upper arm with shaft and bushings as an assembly - they don't really design them for disassembly.

Jun 19, 2003 | 02:54 PM

TankerVette

Racer

Joined: May 2003

Posts: 304

Likes: 1

From: beaverton oregon

Re: C4 Upper A-Arm Rubber Bushing Removal - Tips ??? (Mr6spd)

where do you get the global west bushings? can't find 'em on the internet for c4 corvette...

Jun 19, 2003 | 05:37 PM

Raistlin

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 1,169

Likes: 0

From: Manhattan

Re: C4 Upper A-Arm Rubber Bushing Removal - Tips ??? (Mr6spd)

i cut the ends of the bushings off with a pocket knife, drilled then torched one bushing. it took a while because it wouldn't burn for me, it just kind of melted so I used a screw driver to dig out pieces between the holes I drilled. Once I got one side out, i used a 6" 2 prong puller to remove the other side (after I cut and drilled it)

Jun 19, 2003 | 05:40 PM

superlund

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 1,152

Likes: 1

From: Wichita KS

Re: C4 Upper A-Arm Rubber Bushing Removal - Tips ??? (Mr6spd)

I dropped the entire arm thru the opening in my press & applied pressure to one side at a time. The shaft presses towards the smaller of the (2) inner washers. I then cut the small rubber flange off of the exsisting rubber bushings with a hack saw blade while applying pressure. The flange tends to hold the rubber bushings in place. Once you remove the flange they will pop right out.

Jun 20, 2003 | 10:49 AM

Mr6spd

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 1,013

Likes: 9

Re: C4 Upper A-Arm Rubber Bushing Removal - Tips ??? (superlund)

Thanks for the great tips! As everyone recommended, I cut the rubber flanges off of the bushings (with a knife), then they popped right out in the press.