matt_good
Contributor
Posts: 143
Loc: Sherwood, Oregon
Reg: 03-27-09
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05-01-12 05:46 PM - Post#2221287
What's a safe "do-it-yourself" procedure for replacing the upper and lower control arm bushings? Thank you in advance!
Matt Good
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 327/powerglide
1969 Chevrolet C20 350/SM465 |
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 64cv
"5th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 647
Reg: 06-05-08
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05-01-12 06:14 PM - Post#2221299
In response to matt_good
Not EXACTLY sure what you mean by safe.
The biggest hazard is seriously injuring yourself if you remove the springs incorrectly.
Once the springs are out safely though, there are basically three ways to remove old bushings and install new ones.
1) hammer the old ones out and the new ones in
2) pay a shop to do it
3) do it with your own press.
Being a cheap skate I tried the hammer method and accomplished nothing ruining a socket and making my arm tired. The bushings didn't budge.
I checked on the price to have a shop do it and found that it was actually cheaper to buy a press at Harbor Freight and do it myself. I'm no fan of Harbor Freight but the press is nothing more than a steel frame with a bottle jack with a couple of arbor plates. Works fine.
I'm always looking for an excuse to buy more tools so I bought the press and did it myself. The risk is that you'll bend the control arms with a press. To avoid that, it helps to make a tool with a piece of pipe from Home Depot. I can either sell the press on Craigs List for a few bucks or keep it for the next job. I'll probably keep it for the next job; there's always something; if not me, for one of my buddies.
When I did mine, I did it very carefully and did not bend the control arms at all. Long story short though, I determined that someone in the past HAD bent the control arms. I ended up buying used control arms and cross shafts from another guy in this forum. Glad I didn't pay a shop to do the bushings; I would have ended up shelling out the price of TWO presses to have it done first on the bad arms and then again on the good arms.
Brad
Life is an optimization problem; make the most of it!
'64 Impala Convertible, Blueprint 383, Tremec TKO 5sp, 4-wheel disc brakes. |
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matt_good
Contributor
Posts: 143
Loc: Sherwood, Oregon
Reg: 03-27-09
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05-01-12 06:34 PM - Post#2221307
In response to 64cv
How do you remove the springs?
Matt Good
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 327/powerglide
1969 Chevrolet C20 350/SM465 |
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 62chevy427
"7th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 1499
Loc: laurens sc
Reg: 04-13-06
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05-01-12 07:56 PM - Post#2221352
In response to matt_good
very carfully. buy a factory manual and it will tell you how.you will also need a spring compressor. in your case,an internal one. jc penney has a decent one for around $45. be dareful. i have had a spring wizzing by my head and it was not good.
56 bel air ((since 2002)
62 impala ss (since 1965)
65 el camino (since 1969)
66 nova (since 1987)
67 malibu convertible (since 1981)
72 el camino ss454 (since 1985)
83 gmc 4wd (since 1991)
95 impala (new)
11 malibu (new) |
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1965C-10
Very Senior Member
Posts: 6729
Age: 35
Loc: San Tan Valley AZ "Phoeni...
Reg: 11-18-01
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05-01-12 08:36 PM - Post#2221361
In response to 62chevy427
I have never been to a JC Penny that sells tools, just clothes?
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gizzy
Forum Newbie
Posts: 5
Age: 57
Loc: Ohio
Reg: 07-25-10
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05-01-12 09:26 PM - Post#2221383
In response to 64cv
I'm getting ready to do mine in a couple of weeks.Thanks for the advise. 
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 Dave64SS
"4th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 1470
Loc: Cypress, TX
Reg: 02-28-09
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05-02-12 04:45 AM - Post#2221436
In response to gizzy
you can rent the spring compressors from most all auto parts stores. autozone lets u use tools like this for free. u just have to put a deposit down until u return the tools.
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models916
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1872
Age: 62
Loc: Addison, IL
Reg: 05-28-10
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05-02-12 05:37 AM - Post#2221458
In response to Dave64SS
Free tool rental at Autozone. Yea!
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62chevy427
"7th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 1499
Loc: laurens sc
Reg: 04-13-06
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05-02-12 07:46 AM - Post#2221490
In response to 1965C-10
my mistake. got the jcs mixed up. jc whitney,not jc penney.
56 bel air ((since 2002)
62 impala ss (since 1965)
65 el camino (since 1969)
66 nova (since 1987)
67 malibu convertible (since 1981)
72 el camino ss454 (since 1985)
83 gmc 4wd (since 1991)
95 impala (new)
11 malibu (new) |
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roccaas
Contributor
Posts: 627
Loc: Savannah, Georgia
Reg: 05-01-11
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05-02-12 08:40 AM - Post#2221512
In response to 62chevy427
You can also drill the rubber bushings with a small bit until they are weak enough to push out. I used a torch; messy and nasty, but it works. I also used a hacksaw to cut enough of the steel bushing ring in order to collapse it down and remove the ring.
Be careful of the springs. Search this blog for a lot more on springs. We've been over it several times in the last few months.
Also, you need to either support the drum and hub when the springs are out, or remove the brake hose and bring the drum and hub out from under the cat.
Consider replacing the ball joints while you are doing all of this, and check that your shocks are still good.
For the good old American lifestyle: For the money, for the glory, and for the fun... mostly for the money.
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