Upper control arm bushings

[packratt]

Went to get an alignment. Needed pitman arm, idler arm, both ball joints on one side and upper control arm bushings on one side.

Said screw it and got a shop I deal with to do the lower ball joint and pitman arm. Figured I'd do the upper CA bushings on both sides myself. How do you get that FN outer sleeve out of the CA? Burnt the rubber out and due to failing light only beat on it a little with a BFH. There's bound to be an easier way.

 

[96 OILBURNER]

Have to press it out, unless there is has been new procedure discovered.

 

[1999gmc]

I just did mine and I used a press. To remove and install. I know what you mean on beating them out. When I did my 69 Nova upper control arm bushings, I stuck it in a vise and beat them out with bushing knockers. But when I tried doing these ones that wasn't happening. So I used a press.

 

[Kick Ass Matt]

burn out as much as you can then stick a saw-zall blade in there and cut it length wise (the direction that the bolt runs in). Cut in 3 - 4 places. Then it just falls out. Don't cut too much, just cut enough to break the shell of the bushing. If you nick the arm a litttle don't worry, you'll be fine. Hone out the bore nice and clean so the new one slides in easy.

Matt

 

[SmithvilleD]

Burning the rubber out w/ a torch works, but kinda smokey/messy & for most bushings, there's a quicker, cleaner way.

I typically start by drilling holes thru the rubber, then Sawzall to get much of the rubber & the center out.

Do you need to re-use the outer shells?

If not, an air hammer cuts/zips the outer shells out of most control arms pretty quick.

Just work the chisel under the shell lip, then ratatat/cut thru it with a little inward pressure. Similar to using an air hammer on exhaust work to cut/split the old, outer pipe off - just peeling/cutting the bushing shell inward instead.

 

[packratt]

To start with I burnt out the bushings on one of the control arms. Tried a BF hammer and outer shell didn't want to move. Dug around in the tool box and found an adjustable pitman arm puller. That with a piece of bar stock to span the hole got the shell started and flush with the arm. Then took chisel and BF hammer and knocked the outer shell out.

Ran into problems getting the new bushings in. Bought the Ampro upper control arm bushing tool and the bushings that are included aren't big enough for the ones in my truck.

DO NOT TRY TO INSTALL BUSHING BY USING THE ABOVE TOOL AND PRESSING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RUBBER.

You will screw up the piece of metal you are pushing on and not get the shell to move.

Took the arm and good bushings to a garage I use when I don't do the work and mechanic drove them on in about 2 minutes with a tool that looks like a piece of pipe with a cap. He loaned me the tool so I could do the other side. Drove the 20 miles to get another pair of bushings and got them in.