Control Arm Bushes

[mischa]

Cant get these bushes in, ive tryed using the vice but it started bending the control arm. Any technique I should know about? I would just take them to the shop but its 4pm on a saturday.

[Brett_jjj]

You really need a press and press plates to stop the arm distorting or bending while removing/installing these bushes..You can use a long nut and bolt and different size washers to pull it into place in the control arm as the bolt is tightened up.Just as long as the pressure pushes around the outside of the metal part of the bush and not the middle or on the bush itself.A large socket or a piece of pipe the same size as the outer metal part of the bush will do it.The arm might still bend or distort using this method though.So Id recommend seeing someone with a press and proper plates that support the arm.

[mischa]

Thanks Brett, to pedders on monday it is!

[Cheap6]

That's if they have the tool/can do it properly - been there, done that and at least one of their franchises didn't and couldn't.

The tool to prevent the arm from crushing together is basically a segment of pipe with a little handle welded to it. It fits in between the cylindrical sections of the arm that grab the bush.

Make sure that they have one and use it! Alternatively, it's pretty easy to make one with access to a MIG.

[wortus]

You need to put a spacer inside the arm around the new bush. This supports the arm and stops it distorting when you push the bush in. I've done that using sections of water pipe cut to the right length with a bit cut out to slide over the bush.
Any mechanic workshop can do these you don't need to go to Pedders as they will cost you more.

[VrWagz1]

You can still use the vice(if thats working for you), but you need to cut a peice of pipe to sit inside the arm so it stops it crushing. So bacically cut a peice of pipe to the right legnth to fit inside, then cut it in half long ways, and place it around either side of the bush inside there. Try a peice of plastic pipe first as its easier to work with and can quiet often be strong enough.

The long bolt and washer method is the usual method used, as said the bolt with a big washer on the head of it gets slipped throug the center of the bush and through the arm. Then a big washer and nut is placed on the end. Then simply tighten to pull the bush in.

[mischa]

Thanks guys, good to know what needs to be done but im just going to take it to the garage up the road where i got the bushes pressed out.

Another susspention related question tho, what way around are the spring tops spose to sit around? In the picture ive lined the hole and notch in it up with the axel, is this right?

[Calaber]

As a couple of guys have said, you need to put a spacer between the two sides of the arm, which wraps half way around the bush holes. Pieces of water pipe have been mentioned but a simpler solution which I used was to use a piece of pine the correct width to fit firmly into the arm, with a hole cut through it which is just fractionally larger than the hole. The pine is sawn from one side through to the hole already cut out, and the unwanted piece removed. You now have a small block of pine with a large "U" shaped cut-out in it, which makes a perfect spacer.

You will need different thickness spacers for the front and rear ends of the lower control arms.

Provided you use a spacer, replacing the bushes by yourself at home is quite feasible. If you are using long bolts or threaded rods, and the old bush is very stubborn after tightening up the puller, give the end of the bush a hard whack with a drift. The impact, combined with the loading of the puller, should be enough to shock the bush loose from its grip and enable the puller to gradually pull it from the arm. It only needs to be moved about 6mm or so, then it will fall out.

[mischa]

Got my hands on my manual and i can confirm that that notch is ment to face the axel

[mischa]

Another question, keeping in mind there brand new springs. Has anyone had to compress superlow kings springs for a V8 to get the strut top on? (shocks are exel-G)

I just find it odd because my lovells lows didnt even need to be compressed so why should springs that are ment to be even lower need compressing?

[VrWagz1]

Not sure mischa, but i think<< dangerous. See the real small crap coils at the top. These do nothing except take up the slack for full extension of the shock so it dosnt fall out. My rears have the same thing.

[mischa]

Ahhh I wondered about that, my lovelles didnt have that in them so maybe there's the problem? Just means i got to go buy some more spring compressors cause I lost one of mine

[VrWagz1]

pfft buy.....jsut make some

[mischa]

It would end up costing me more to buy the stuff to make that then buy them! Also how do i get the shock through the middle