Control Arm Bushings - DIY Possible?

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 09 Mar 2011, 07:09

Do I need a hydraulic press to replace the bushings in the control arms or will heat and brute force work? 150ish/side is more than I can stomach so if I can do the bushings myself I would be a happy camper.

Post by **jimmy57** » 09 Mar 2011, 08:58

knock the broken center out and then go after it with sawzall. After you cut through it falls out.
Large C clamp, proper size iron pipe coupler a little larger than the OD of bushing, and another coupler or 1/2 inch socket that is a small fraction smaller that ID of hole in control arm can be used with C clamp as press. You probably need at leat a 10 inch clamp but 12 inch would even be safer depending on height of your fashioned press drifts.

ed7 · Post by **ed7** » 09 Mar 2011, 17:05

A vise will work well. A decent vise, mounted, will give you one hand to hold and one to crank the screw with.
An arbor press works also. Just start the new bushings as straight as possible; it makes things easier.
Use sockets or tubing or pipe fittings to help drive.
Sawzall is one of my favorite tools.
Ed

Post by **matthew1** » 09 Mar 2011, 17:09

I tried it without good tools and didn't get far. I got the old bushing out with lots of elbow grease and a hacksaw. If you have a good vise and sawzall, go for it.

bobsnow100 · Post by **bobsnow100** » 10 Mar 2011, 13:44

I've put the new bushing in with a large vise and the right size socket . What I do to put it in straight is to just grind a very small bevel around the outside of the whole round edge of the metal bushing and it will fit in the control arm and not want to tip sideways when pressing it in.
I have also heard that if you put the bushing in the freezer to get it cold that it actually makes it easier to get in.

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 10 Mar 2011, 14:52

Yeah I was thinking freeze bushing, heat control arm, cross fingers.