removing front control arms, is there an easy way?

[projectPONY]

I'd like to know how you plan on removing the bushings. I was in there deep, doing five lug swap, and decided to put new control arm bushings in while I was there. Boy was that a bad idea. I tried everything to get them out to no avail. My 12 ton press couldn't even do it. Finally I was whipped and decided to pay a shop to do it.

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[KBScobravert]

I'd like to know how you plan on removing the bushings. I was in there deep, doing five lug swap, and decided to put new control arm bushings in while I was there. Boy was that a bad idea. I tried everything to get them out to no avail. My 12 ton press couldn't even do it. Finally I was whipped and decided to pay a shop to do it.

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Torch, hacksaw blade and a impact hammer with a chisel blade on it.

[Blackpony]

I'd like to know how you plan on removing the bushings. I was in there deep, doing five lug swap, and decided to put new control arm bushings in while I was there. Boy was that a bad idea. I tried everything to get them out to no avail. My 12 ton press couldn't even do it. Finally I was whipped and decided to pay a shop to do it.

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I typically use a hole saw to cut the center out, then a sawzaw to put a slit in the shell. It will then slide right out and you can press the new ones in. That is if you don't have a press to get the old ones out. You can rent a ball joint press from oreillys to put the new ones in.

[CWO]

When I did my sn-95, I pulled the rack bolts and removed the tubes the rack rides on (the bolts go through them), then lifted or tilted the rack enought to remove the bolts. That's the easy part, as stated above, the a arm bushing are a major PITA. Good luck.

Thats exactly how I did mine over the weekend. Easy job.

[CWO]

I have some SN95 arms with new poly bushings and moog ball joints in the For Sale section

[Trick Pony]

I remember replacing the control arms on my '79. I couldn't get any kind of big impact in there. I can't remember what the factory torque spec on the control arm bolts was, but they had red Loc-Tite on them and I had to use 2 breaker bars pushing with both legs and pulling with both arms.

[bird_dog0347]

Well I got the bolts loose on the drivers side no problem, I just have to get the rack out of the way to get the arm off. I am just planning to burn the old ones out of the metal shells and put the new ones in. I don't have an oxy-acetelyne torch but I'm going to try it with just a cheap home depot torch and see how that goes.

Skip ahead to 5 min to see my plan.

[mstng86]

I think I ended up bending one control arm when trying to press ou tthe bushings.


I ended up beating the shit out of them till they finally came out. It was the worst job I have ever done on a car.

[bird_dog0347]

I think I ended up bending one control arm when trying to press ou tthe bushings.


I ended up beating the shit out of them till they finally came out. It was the worst job I have ever done on a car.

Were you replacing the outer sleeves too or just the bushings? I don't intend to replace the outer sleeves and I'm just gonna burn the rubber out of them.

[thedriver33]

when i pulled mine i didnt have to move the rack at all.....

[bird_dog0347]

I said screw it and decided I'd leave the arms on till I was ready to go coil over's which is in the long term plans anyways. Too much effort in my mind for too little short term gain on a car that might see 5k miles a year for now. I have big long term plans and they don't include the stock front control arms.