need vpb control arm bushing install help
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: dudley MA
need vpb control arm bushing install help
i cant get the new bushing to fit into the control arm holes. any1 have any tips or tricks to do this? thanks pat
Last edited by pdd000; Jan 28, 2005 at 02:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,799
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From: dudley MA
ya i greased them up. i had the wrong bushing in the hole. there all different sizes. do you guys know if the kitt is suppose to come with the bottom rear bushing near the ball joint?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: dudley MA
Originally Posted by BPC5R
If you mean where the rear shock mounts to, then no, that one stays stock.
of course i cut it off 
now ill have to figure something out
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,969
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From: Lake Worth FL
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06 & '12
Pat, curious which method you used to get the old bushings out. My new VBP poly bushings are on the way. I've heard to burn them out with a torch or to use a ball joint tool to press them out. Thanks! 
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
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From: cincinnati ohio
Originally Posted by dmtnt
Pat, curious which method you used to get the old bushings out. My new VBP poly bushings are on the way. I've heard to burn them out with a torch or to use a ball joint tool to press them out. Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,976
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From: Clouds Over California
Originally Posted by RAFTRACER
Dont use a torch, press them out with a press or a large table vise. The upper fronts you can grab the dog-bone with a vise and use a upward twisting motion and it will take less than 45 sec.@ to get those out.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
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From: cincinnati ohio
Originally Posted by Shinobi'sZ
I did this mod 5 years ago. There are a couple of ways to do it. Andy from A&A and I did it at the same time. I used the method of drilling 4-5 holes in the stock bushing to relieve the pressure, and then had to use a press to push them out...PITA. Andy used a torch and was done in 1/2 the time. If I had to do it over I would melt them out with a torch, as long as you don't torch the aluminum its fine and an easy way to do it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Clouds Over California
Originally Posted by RAFTRACER
If you would of just pressed instead of drilling holes you would have been fine. those bushings are made of marshmallow, very easy to press out . Half the time I just use bench vise. I've done my fair share of these bushings myself.
Must not have done them on a C5. 
I followed Paul's directions exactly as he gave them to me over the phone. (Paul from VBP). The stock bushings are poured into the control arms. I used a huge press, and ended up drilling them as the instructions state from VB&P. Yes I removed all of the control arms to do the work. If you are doing it in your garage like I did, make sure you mark your camber/alignment settings. This will allow you to drive it to the alignment shop without any issues. I also installed the VB&P tie rod ends and 850lbs front springs, along with some T1 bars...don't do the T1 bars...they are way too much for the street. Get Z06 or Hotchkis.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
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From: cincinnati ohio
Originally Posted by Shinobi'sZ
Must not have done them on a C5. I followed Paul's directions exactly as he gave them to me over the phone. (Paul from VBP). The stock bushings are poured into the control arms. I used a huge press, and ended up drilling them as the instructions state from VB&P. Yes I removed all of the control arms to do the work. If you are doing it in your garage like I did, make sure you mark your camber/alignment settings. This will allow you to drive it to the alignment shop without any issues. I also installed the VB&P tie rod ends and 850lbs front springs, along with some T1 bars...don't do the T1 bars...they are way too much for the street. Get Z06 or Hotchkis.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,799
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From: dudley MA
Originally Posted by dmtnt
Pat, curious which method you used to get the old bushings out. My new VBP poly bushings are on the way. I've heard to burn them out with a torch or to use a ball joint tool to press them out. Thanks!
so after i got sick of that i drilled the rubber bushings all around and they just about fell out by themselfs. so if you dont have a press, drill them out. works great
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Clouds Over California
Originally Posted by RAFTRACER
I'll bet I've done more than you and Andy put together, and BTW Jack-A## VBP sponsors my race car. TIA
I was doing poly bushings 5 years before you ever showed up here, and I don't care who sponsors you..if your wrong your wrong. You can actually expand the control arms if you don't relieve the pressure before pressing them out..Paul was the GM of VB&P, and my discussions with him about VB&P were taking place as the product hit the market right after VB&P had finished making them. John from CCW turned me on to them. The way you described it is not the way VB&P described it, it was one of those times I felt that the manufacturer's guidelines should be followed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,502
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From: cincinnati ohio
Originally Posted by Shinobi'sZ
You have done more dudes maybe.
I was doing poly bushings 5 years before you ever showed up here, and I don't care who sponsors you..if your wrong your wrong. You can actually expand the control arms if you don't relieve the pressure before pressing them out..Paul was the GM of VB&P, and my discussions with him about VB&P were taking place as the product hit the market right after VB&P had finished making them. John from CCW turned me on to them. The way you described it is not the way VB&P described it, it was one of those times I felt that the manufacturer's guidelines should be followed.
I was doing poly bushings 5 years before you ever showed up here, and I don't care who sponsors you..if your wrong your wrong. You can actually expand the control arms if you don't relieve the pressure before pressing them out..Paul was the GM of VB&P, and my discussions with him about VB&P were taking place as the product hit the market right after VB&P had finished making them. John from CCW turned me on to them. The way you described it is not the way VB&P described it, it was one of those times I felt that the manufacturer's guidelines should be followed.
Yeah I probably have done more dudes than you, problem is mine were all at the race track, not on this forum.
You started all this, all I simply did was post how I do it, then you come on here challenging my intellect like I never worked on a C5.
Last edited by RAFTRACER; Jan 31, 2005 at 04:31 PM.
Team Owner
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I would not feel comfortable torching them out and heating the aluminum. Drill and pressing them is easy. If you mark everything before you take it apart you have a basic starting point for your alignment.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Lake Worth FL
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06 & '12
Originally Posted by John Shiels
I would not feel comfortable torching them out and heating the aluminum.
He's forgotten more than I'll ever know about the physics end of these kind of things so I doubt he'd suggest it if it were a concern.VB&P suggests a ball joint tool for removal - maybe I'll look for one on ebay as my bushings just got here today.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,614
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From: DFW TX
I can vouch that RAFTRACER has done this more than all of us put together, the method may not be the one described by VBP, but he would not be telling you about it if it was not proven. He has built and run some of the fastest C5's in the autocross world, nad has probably been installing these since they hit the market.
low blow there guy... speaking from experience?
Originally Posted by Shinobi'sZ
You have done more dudes maybe.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,502
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From: cincinnati ohio
Originally Posted by BPC5R
I can vouch that RAFTRACER has done this more than all of us put together, the method may not be the one described by VBP, but he would not be telling you about it if it was not proven. He has built and run some of the fastest C5's in the autocross world, nad has probably been installing these since they hit the market.
low blow there guy... speaking from experience?
low blow there guy... speaking from experience?
That neemo corvette ready to kick some butt????
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 184
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From: Salisbury NC
I did a set of the VBP on Nitro C5's car. I just cut one side of the bushing flush with the control arm and then used a press to get them out. Once all the control arms are of the car, changing the bushings is the easy part.