Need help removing bushings from 73-87 ART arms

[red02chevy]

Is there a special tool needed to do this? I am about to take my arms to the powdercoaters and need these bushings out asap.

Let me know if I need to snap a photo of them. Thanks

[mikeoj]

ttt

[red02chevy]

I guess that means no one knows how?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by red02chevy

I guess that means no one knows how?

Nothing really special about it. You pry them out w/an air chisel just like factory a-arms.

[red02chevy]

I used a chisel and air hammer and just messed up the actual arm. I am wondering if there is a puller or something that is made to do this.

[grnddwn]

If you burn the rubber out with a torch it will fall out them you can cut the sleeve from the inside and the chisel will push it out. I do this all the time with stock control arms. You don't need to get them real hot just enough to get the rubber burning. There is no pretty way to do it.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by grnddwn

If you burn the rubber out with a torch it will fall out them you can cut the sleeve from the inside and the chisel will push it out. I do this all the time with stock control arms. You don't need to get them real hot just enough to get the rubber burning. There is no pretty way to do it.

I tried that 'burn-out' method once w/some bushings & came to the conclusion is was a big mess (black soot) & you still had to drive the shell out in the end.

I stick w/just the air chisel now.

[7T7]

I've always chiseled also. I'm sure the ART arms are going to be tuff!


There is a "Control Arm Bushing Service Set" you might try Auto Zone and see if they rent such a tool.

[grnddwn]

With stock control arm the bushing only has to pass through two metal pieces so the chisel takes it out fairly easily. With tubular control arms the bushing is pressed into a sleeve providing considerably more friction to overcome. We run into this problem on our MII control arms when somebody presses in the bushing without the cross shaft. Burning out the rubber and cutting the thin bushing sleeve with an air saw allows the bushing to be removed from the arm with no damage to the control arm. We don't like to scar up our arms just because someone wasn't paying attention (yeah I did it once too).
Just my input from experience.

[gringoloco]

The way I did mine when I was trying not to damage anything was:

1) Use a hacksaw to cut off the outer lip- the part right behind the washer. This will allow you to see the inner and outer sleeves.

2) Drill out the rubber between the inner/outer sleeve.

3) Once you get most of the rubber out, you can hammer out the whole assembly. If you are wanting to re-use your cross-shafts, use a rubber mallet.

4) Take your hacksaw apart and reassemble it through the inside of the bushing sleeve. Make one cut all the way through the sleeve- just be careful not to cut into the arm.

5) Take a big pair of channel locks and compress the sleeve enough for it to fall out.

There you have it. It is a little labor intensive, but you will not damage the arm in any way...