Lower Control Arm Bushings - What's Involved?

[Big T]

Do you need a torsion compression tool to get the Control Arms off? Once I get them off, I'd take them in to have old bushings pressed out and new ones pressed in.

 

[WarWagon]

You can use a floor jack to release the tension. Seriously I would recommend subbing this job completely out to a local suspension shop. I did it once with help and the second time I hired it out - it took em a week to do it. You are grinding bolt heads to slip it past the diff to get the lower control arms out.

 

[Big T]

You can use a floor jack to release the tension. Seriously I would recommend subbing this job completely out to a local suspension shop. I did it once with help and the second time I hired it out - it took em a week to do it. You are grinding bolt heads to slip it past the diff to get the lower control arms out.

I'm doing the steering on the '99. Upper control arms were already done. Upper and lower ball joints done. Not sure if I have to do the lower control arm bushings.

Also going through the entire front end and steering of the '94. I assume everything needs to be done on that one.

How much would a shop charge to do the lower control arms?

 

[tanman_2006]

How do you check control arms bushings?

As far as I know all of mine are over 200k and some are near, if not over 300k. I know most of my trucks have original ball joints for the most part.

 

[WarWagon]

With ball joints they did all 4 bushings for $700. Not by book rate for sure.

You check bushings by looking for cracked rubber or caster/camber visually changing. Outer tire wear or feathering - hard to align.

 

[Big T]

As noted have done the upper control arm bushings and all 4'ball joints on the '99 and have no uneven tire wear. I have have wandering steering at highway speeds.

The '94 we just bought has the wandering and loose steering AND the outer tire edge is worn or rounded off on both sides. I'm assuming that everything needs to be done on that one

While dismantling the '95 I pulled the steering box to as a trial run for tightening the steering boxes on the '94 and '99. Pulled the Pitman Arm off and it clearly has play in it. I expect to find the same in the idler Arm. All the ball joints in the '95 were worn with cracked boots.

As I go through the steering on the '99 should I just assume everything is worn and replace all 4 tie rod ends? Or should I wait to see the outcome after tightening steering box and replacing the pitman, idler arm and bracket?

 

[tanman_2006]

I always check for play, I never have worried weather the rubber showed cracks on all tie rods and ball joints. I check for play by jacking one side up and having someone turn the tires in and out while I lay under the truck. Check for where things flex and replace accordingly.

I have never replaced bushings because I figured I would see movement there when checking for play in other places.