Control Arm Bushings - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

83C · 07-15-2003, 10:01 PM

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????

love it loud · 07-15-2003, 10:07 PM

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

low 84 · 07-15-2003, 10:23 PM

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

bagged74 · 07-15-2003, 10:53 PM

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.

CT-Truckster · 07-15-2003, 11:26 PM

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.

SCOTI · 07-16-2003, 12:32 AM

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).

sgtjed · 07-16-2003, 04:04 AM

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.

83C · 07-17-2003, 12:32 AM

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.

**swervin ervin** · 07-17-2003, 02:18 AM

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

sgtjed · 07-17-2003, 03:06 AM

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

SCOTI · 07-17-2003, 06:24 AM

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.

rockman20 · 07-17-2003, 08:39 AM

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.

83C · 07-17-2003, 11:18 PM

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!!!

07-15-2003, 10:01 PM	#1
83C Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Il Posts: 90	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???? __________________ 83 Chevy SWB http://www.cardomain.com/id/letheridge

07-15-2003, 10:07 PM	#2
love it loud Calibration Engineer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada Posts: 361	liquid wrench!!! (oxy-acetylene), air chisel, etc.. __________________ CANADIAN CONNECTION

07-15-2003, 10:23 PM	#3
low 84 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,144	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 __________________ '51 F100, backhalf with a narrowed 9 and coil overs, 18.5" mickeys, monte front clip, +400" sbc in the works '05 1500 Crew Cab RIP '84 swb 5/7 drop, solid cammed 408 w/ fully ported dart heads, th350 w/ 10 inch hughes, 12 bolt w/ 3.73 richmonds and a locker '80 swb 4x4 in progress: 7" lift, 350 th350/np205, d44 and 1.5" ORD tie rod, 14BFF w/discs , armored diff covers, 40" MTR's

07-16-2003, 12:32 AM	#6
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,071	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). __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

07-16-2003, 04:04 AM	#7
sgtjed What if? Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Choctaw,Oklahoma Posts: 649	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. __________________ 2002 red extended cab Silverado 2002 Wheatland yellow Suburban

07-15-2003, 10:53 PM	#4
bagged74 its just $$$$$ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OK Posts: 2,078	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.

07-15-2003, 11:26 PM	#5
CT-Truckster ? Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Dyersburg, TN Posts: 471	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.

07-17-2003, 12:32 AM	#8
83C Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Il Posts: 90	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. __________________ 83 Chevy SWB http://www.cardomain.com/id/letheridge

07-17-2003, 02:18 AM	#9
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	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 __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

07-17-2003, 03:06 AM	#10
sgtjed What if? Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Choctaw,Oklahoma Posts: 649	hehe putting them back in is really easy,getting em out is the hard part __________________ 2002 red extended cab Silverado 2002 Wheatland yellow Suburban

07-17-2003, 06:24 AM	#11
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,071	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. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

07-17-2003, 08:39 AM	#12
rockman20 "The dude abides" Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: North Dakota Posts: 472	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. __________________ RockMan 1993 Chevy Silverado C3500 1 ton dually 1994 Honda Civic 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass S 1953 IH Farmall Super M New to the fleet: 1992 Subaru Loyal

07-17-2003, 11:18 PM	#13
83C Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Il Posts: 90	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!!! __________________ 83 Chevy SWB http://www.cardomain.com/id/letheridge

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