Control Arm Bushings
 

I have took took apart my front end and I am trying to get the control arm bushings out. I have got both bolts off but I see no way to get the bushings out. Any helpfull hints????

liquid wrench!!! (oxy-acetylene), air chisel, etc..

a chisle and hammer and alot of beating will get them out. the lowers are pinched on the back side so you have to push those pinches over. and air chisle would be alot quicker if you have one. i personaly had another set of control arms that were powdercoated and the bushings were out when i got them, so it was quicker for me to use a cut off wheel and cut the eyes of the control arms off to get the cross shafts but that wouldn't be a good idea in your case:D

if they are really,really stuck in there, you it may be easiest to use a torch to heat them and an air chisel to drive them out.:devil:

if the old ones are so hard to get out are new ones so hard to put in? i'm planing on putting some new bushings in a extra set of a arms i have then swapping them over to my truck to save downtime.

The new ones just use the a-arm shaft nuts to draw the bushing shell into place.

For the old ones, an air chisel & a vice is the best. Use the chisel to get under the lips of the shell & partially collapse the shell as you work your way around the diameter of the bushing. It's frustrating @ first, but once you get the hang of it, goes quickly (unless your me).

i know i have a 70 but i put in 73 upper and lowers.

i replaced the bushings and like it has been said,its a pain at first but when ya figure it out it goes really fast,i just used my air chisle and vise. i also used a lot of liquid wrench too.
also when you put the new bushings in the uppers use a dowl rod in the a-arm between the bushings to keep the arm from bending.

I have started soaking them and I will try to pick up a air chisel this weekend. Thanks for the information. I just hope once I get them out that I will be able to put the new ones back in.

83c,

read this article of mine. I explain in good detail what I did when I replaced my control arm bushings.

http://www.73-87.com/garage/frontend.htm

hehe putting them back in is really easy,getting em out is the hard part:D

sgt jed has a good idea for the brace between the 'ears' of the control arm to prevent flexing while installing the new bushings. I thought of that after I got everything together for the installation & of course didn't have anything lying around I could use.

I didn't need to chisel my old bushings out on my 69 Cutlass, but I also had access to a press. The trick of putting something between the ears of the arm is a great thing.

If you want to try to help ease the install progress, put the bushings in the freezer over night. When it comes time to install, you can heat the a-arm slightly. The little bit of shrinkage on the bushing and the exanding of the a-arm will make it slightly easier.

Here again, I just used a press. Not a problem at all with that.

swervin erwin..I should have thought to check out your website. I have used your website many times for help on my truck. My main project right now is to get my frame painted and then I will start in on the front suspension pieces. Thanks for the help!!!