Control arm bushing install - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BamaDave · 09-10-2014, 07:55 PM

Don't have access to a press. I know I saw where someone posted a way to do this on here, I just can't find it. Can someone help a brother out?

bluex · 09-10-2014, 10:23 PM

Upper or lower arms? Poly or rubber bushings?

BamaDave · 09-11-2014, 08:17 AM

Upper and lowers. Poly

**Gregski** · 09-11-2014, 11:40 PM

please show some progress pics once you figure it out I gots to do this myself in the not so distant future and would like to see how you did it, I heard you can use soap water to press in the new ones or WD40 (please confirm or deny)

BamaDave · 09-12-2014, 10:07 AM

Will do, once I figure it out. I thought someone on here would have some ideas.

SkinnyG · 09-12-2014, 12:10 PM

I've done poly bushings using a bench vice to put them in.

Sometimes a hefty C-Clamp can get them in, but they don't always submit to my will.

I used an arbor press to do the bushings in my C10. They're actually pretty cheap and are useful in their own way (check Harbor Freight).

Getting the old rubber out is usually the most irritating. I like burning them out with a torch, but the neighbours don't.

I wonder if you could just re-use the original steel sleeves with the new poly bushings, and not have to deal with pressing and staking the new ones in.

Usually takes me eight to ten hours to do full bushings on a vehicle.

BamaDave · 09-12-2014, 12:22 PM

Staking?

**brakenit** · 09-12-2014, 02:43 PM

You have to stake the new sleeves into place after pressing them in. You basically flare out the lip along the inside edge of the sleeve in a few places so they can't come back out. I used a Harbor Freight balljoint press to install the sleeves in my control arms.

SkinnyG · 09-12-2014, 02:44 PM

New poly bushings usually come with new sleeves. The sleeves are pressed into the arms, and the extending inboard edges are distorted with a punch so that they are less likely to come loose or come out.

It's really not hard to do.

Truckin' article on bushings: http://www.truckinweb.com/tech/1005t...y_c10_buildup/

mattcrp1 · 09-12-2014, 03:58 PM

I posted a how to in the suspension forum. Its also in my sig. I was able to do an install with a vise for the most part.

BamaDave · 09-12-2014, 11:44 PM

I knew I saw it somewhere

bluex · 09-13-2014, 07:20 AM

Put the outer shells in the freezer for a day before you install them. That will shrink them a little and help them go in easier.

09-10-2014, 07:55 PM	#1
BamaDave Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Shoals, AL Posts: 299	Control arm bushing install Don't have access to a press. I know I saw where someone posted a way to do this on here, I just can't find it. Can someone help a brother out?

09-10-2014, 10:23 PM	#2
bluex Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Spartanburg, SC Posts: 1,963	Re: Control arm bushing install Upper or lower arms? Poly or rubber bushings? __________________ Paul '78 GMC Serria 15 Heavy Half. 361/NV3500/3.73. Former LWB NV3500 swap Trailing arm swap '98 ECSB Z71 daily driver -traded '03 burb. Family cruiser http://upstategmtrucks.com/

09-11-2014, 08:17 AM	#3
BamaDave Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Shoals, AL Posts: 299	Re: Control arm bushing install Upper and lowers. Poly

09-11-2014, 11:40 PM	#4
Gregski Post Whore Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 10,840	Re: Control arm bushing install please show some progress pics once you figure it out I gots to do this myself in the not so distant future and would like to see how you did it, I heard you can use soap water to press in the new ones or WD40 (please confirm or deny)

09-12-2014, 10:07 AM	#5
BamaDave Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Shoals, AL Posts: 299	Re: Control arm bushing install Will do, once I figure it out. I thought someone on here would have some ideas.

09-12-2014, 12:10 PM	#6
SkinnyG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Beautiful BC, Canada, eh?! Posts: 2,246	Re: Control arm bushing install I've done poly bushings using a bench vice to put them in. Sometimes a hefty C-Clamp can get them in, but they don't always submit to my will. I used an arbor press to do the bushings in my C10. They're actually pretty cheap and are useful in their own way (check Harbor Freight). Getting the old rubber out is usually the most irritating. I like burning them out with a torch, but the neighbours don't. I wonder if you could just re-use the original steel sleeves with the new poly bushings, and not have to deal with pressing and staking the new ones in. Usually takes me eight to ten hours to do full bushings on a vehicle. __________________ 1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate

09-12-2014, 12:22 PM	#7
BamaDave Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Shoals, AL Posts: 299	Re: Control arm bushing install Staking?

09-12-2014, 02:43 PM	#8
brakenit Active Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 198	Re: Control arm bushing install You have to stake the new sleeves into place after pressing them in. You basically flare out the lip along the inside edge of the sleeve in a few places so they can't come back out. I used a Harbor Freight balljoint press to install the sleeves in my control arms.

09-12-2014, 02:44 PM	#9
SkinnyG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Beautiful BC, Canada, eh?! Posts: 2,246	Re: Control arm bushing install New poly bushings usually come with new sleeves. The sleeves are pressed into the arms, and the extending inboard edges are distorted with a punch so that they are less likely to come loose or come out. It's really not hard to do. Truckin' article on bushings: http://www.truckinweb.com/tech/1005t...y_c10_buildup/ __________________ 1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate

09-12-2014, 03:58 PM	#10
mattcrp1 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mountain House, CA Posts: 555	Re: Control arm bushing install I posted a how to in the suspension forum. Its also in my sig. I was able to do an install with a vise for the most part. __________________ My Chevy habit is paid for by Ford diesels... Here is my SLOW LS install: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...55#post6456355 Caliper Rebuild: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=613748 Upper Control Arm Bushings: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=616974 IG mattcrp1

09-12-2014, 11:44 PM	#11
BamaDave Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Shoals, AL Posts: 299	Re: Control arm bushing install I knew I saw it somewhere

09-13-2014, 07:20 AM	#12
bluex Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Spartanburg, SC Posts: 1,963	Re: Control arm bushing install Put the outer shells in the freezer for a day before you install them. That will shrink them a little and help them go in easier. __________________ Paul '78 GMC Serria 15 Heavy Half. 361/NV3500/3.73. Former LWB NV3500 swap Trailing arm swap '98 ECSB Z71 daily driver -traded '03 burb. Family cruiser http://upstategmtrucks.com/

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