how to get control arm bushings out -- URGENT

[aggiedave98]

I've got the front end of my 2wd '89 suburban 1/2ton apart now. I've got the control arms off, but nobody told me it was going to be so hard to get off the control arm bushings.

How do I get them off?? They're pressed in and I can't figure out how to get them out w/ the bolt going through them.

Thanks for any help!!

[LONGHAIR]

You are probably going to have to take them to an alignment shop and have them pressed out. There is really no way around it if you don't have a press yourself.

[crazy longhorn]

I use a torch to remove the old bushings. if you heat up the outer shell of the bushing, the rubber will burn.....lay the arm outside the garage till the rubber either pops out, or burns out(big smoke & mess!) after the rubber is out, you can reach inside the shell with the torch, & carefully cut the shell from end to end in 2 places & pull it out with plier, or tap it out with a hammer/chisel. As far as assembly, you will still need to press.....or tap the bushings in carefully so as not to bend the arms. I have used a backup pc of tubing to lay on the underside of the arm(inside), & set the mess up on the vice & drive the 1 st bushing in. Slide the shaft in next, & use a chunk of angle iron (tight fit to span the arm), & a short pc tween the to holes on the arm(just to keep from bending the arm). then drive the other bushing in. this is much easier with a 2nd set of hands(use a helper that dosent get riled if you miss with the hammer ). Best of luck,crazyL

[DennyB]

Originally Posted by crazy longhorn

I use a torch to remove the old bushings. if you heat up the outer shell of the bushing, the rubber will burn.....lay the arm outside the garage till the rubber either pops out, or burns out(big smoke & mess!) after the rubber is out, you can reach inside the shell with the torch, & carefully cut the shell from end to end in 2 places & pull it out with plier, or tap it out with a hammer/chisel. As far as assembly, you will still need to press.....or tap the bushings in carefully so as not to bend the arms. I have used a backup pc of tubing to lay on the underside of the arm(inside), & set the mess up on the vice & drive the 1 st bushing in. Slide the shaft in next, & use a chunk of angle iron (tight fit to span the arm), & a short pc tween the to holes on the arm(just to keep from bending the arm). then drive the other bushing in. this is much easier with a 2nd set of hands(use a helper that dosent get riled if you miss with the hammer ). Best of luck,crazyL

Ive done it longhorns way, but instead of burning the bushings out, I used a drill and kept working my way around it tell the inner sleve came out. Then its alot easier to remove the rest of the rubber.
This was before I had a torch so theres another option for you.
Now I would probably just torch it out.

fire , fire... hu uh ha

[aggiedave98]

Thanks for the help!! I wound up taking them to the shop... it was well worth the $$$. It took the guy about an hour and a half for all of them w/ an air chisel.