Bushings and control arm removal. Need advice

[Motorhead350]

I had my car up on a lift and my rear control arm bushings are shot. I WILL be taking them somewhere to get the bushings pressed out, I will not struggle with a hammer and after some research it seems they are a real PITA to remove. My question is how to remove the rear control arms. Last time I saw it done, they were done one at a time. Never at any point were they all removed at once. If this is the way to do it, I will be making 4 trips running to a shop and back for pressing out the old ones and pressing in the ones. Is this the only way to do it, if I am going to do it myself? Or can I use jack stands to support the car? I have no idea.

Also, my front control arm bushings are also shot. I do not think I will touch these because an alignment will have to be done too. I cannot seem to find any info on how the front ones (bushings) are removed. From a picture, it looks like they are in differently than the rear... like they are bolted near the control arm as suppose to being pressed in. Is this correct?

Thanks in advance.

[Zack]

There are no known replacement bushings for the rear control arms.

Its pointless to replace bushings on the front control arms. Just replace the unit as a whole.

Yes its a little bit more money, but not much.

[Motorhead350]

There are no known replacement bushings for the rear control arms.

Its pointless to replace bushings on the front control arms. Just replace the unit as a whole.

Yes its a little bit more money, but not much.

I did not know that. So it looks like the Zack control arms are done. Not the arms themselves, but because of lack of bushings. I had my factory ones pressed out into yours. The only way I can assume to keep the aftermarket control arms is to find stock ones at a yard with the best bushings possible and swap them out.

IF the time comes, is there a way to safely remove all 4 rear control arms at once? Or will I be stuck running around all day to save a few hundred bucks?

[Comin' in Hot]

The stock rear control arms could be had for like $29 for each upper and $32 for each lower on rockauto, but you have to look under a newer CV or MGM and I think rock auto calls them trailing arms.

If you want to use the Z&M control arms, get new bushings. I understand you're right on cash, but you need spend the cash for your safety and everyone else on the road.

[Motorhead350]

Ok, the bushings part is clear, but what about control arm removal?

Can I do this all at once with jack stands or do I have to do it one at a time?

I am going to a yard friday to hunt for control arms for the sake of the bushings... to reuse Zacks. If anyone has the chance to pick up a set go for it. The took time off my E.T. and made the car handle better. There are reasons I refuse to let these go!

[Comin' in Hot]

It would probably be cheaper (cost, fuel, time) to just order new control arms and press out the bushings.

[Comin' in Hot]

and put your car on jackstands and change one at a time, it's as basic as it gets.

[Motorhead350]

Copy that.

Thank you both.

[massacre]

If you have 4 big jack stands and 2 little ones, you can do all 4 arms.
4 big jack stands under the car and 2 under the rear axle tubes. Use a floor jack under the pumpkin to lower, raise as needed to remove/install.

Without a lift you can do it this way, I've done it this way. It's not my favorite way to do it.
To me if you're going to go through all that work anyways it makes no sense not to install new arms that come with new bushings.
Why make the job twice as difficult?
The car ride and handling will likely improve greatly, and that is something you will appreciate it every time you drive it. And it's safer, like was said.
All I'm saying is that it could end up being a ton of work with no improvement. :confused:

[Motorhead350]

In a perfect world every replacement part would be new and I likely would never pick up a wrench again. Until then, this is what I have to do. Or learn to do.

[massacre]

In a perfect world every replacement part would be new and I likely would never pick up a wrench again.

What you're doing is like trying to buy used underwear. Nobody does that, they buy new underwear. Nobody buys used bushings.

But if that is what you want to do, good luck man. Let us know how you make out.
Maybe you could afford to replace just the uppers right now, then do the lowers later or vice-versa, either way man I wish you the best :beer:

[Motorhead350]

I would go commando, but that would be very dangerous.

[massacre]

Never mind my bad

[Comin' in Hot]

Today I swapped out my control arms when I changed my rear axle. This is why it's not a good idea to even look for used bushings. I've had 3 marauders, and all the upper control arms looked like this.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b335/Witman40/0D7A9192-9B85-4F9C-A57C-BE3DE4557AC4_zpsn4jypdjf.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/Witman40/media/0D7A9192-9B85-4F9C-A57C-BE3DE4557AC4_zpsn4jypdjf.jpg.h tml)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b335/Witman40/9D10E8F3-F39D-4627-81ED-FDFDB688C8C8_zpsbzef2leu.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/Witman40/media/9D10E8F3-F39D-4627-81ED-FDFDB688C8C8_zpsbzef2leu.jpg.h tml)

[RF Overlord]

From Rock Auto:

MEVOTECH Part # MS40108 Rear Upper; $29.79
MEVOTECH Part # MS40107 Rear Lower; $38.89

$108 for all four.

You certainly can change all 4 at once, but I would recommend you do one side at time to give yourself a reference for how everything reassembles.

[Motorhead350]

Thanks! That is what I need! ^

I went to a yard and they wanted $125 for a set of used ones. I left them.

[myrodr]

think i seen set of uppers +lowers on e-bay for $80 not sure but you my want to check.

[massacre]

From Rock Auto:

MEVOTECH Part # MS40108 Rear Upper; $29.79
MEVOTECH Part # MS40107 Rear Lower; $38.89

$108 for all four.

You certainly can change all 4 at once, but I would recommend you do one side at time to give yourself a reference for how everything reassembles.

+1 I agree do one arm at a time if it's your first time

[Motorhead350]

I pulled a set off of a few cars in a yard this past weekend. It's easy, but one at a time for sure and make sure the shock is on!

This is still ridiculous. All I need are the bushings and all new control arms are needed for the sake of new bushings that fit???

I guess no one bothers to keep a car or fix a car when it's in the state of needing new control arm bushings. If there was a market for bushings they would be made. Or the quality would be crap to sell you a set every 2 years. Isn't it wonderful how the world works?

[justbob]

You should MIC them out and get all your numbers together then make a call to Berry Bearing. They have a few locations and literally carry anything you can dream up. They have saved my ass some serious coin many times and always willing to help IF you know WTF your looking for. I.E. Do your homework first, and don't expect them to bend over backwards to serve you.


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[RF Overlord]

All I need are the bushings and all new control arms are needed for the sake of new bushings that fit???

I guess no one bothers to keep a car or fix a car when it's in the state of needing new control arm bushings. I figure that for $30 for a new arm including 2 bushings, it's not worth trying to market the bushings alone. Even if they did, they'd prolly be $10 each plus the labour to R&R the arm AND press out the old bushings and press in the new. It would be a lot cheaper and quicker to just install new arms.

[Motorhead350]

I like Zack's control arms. If they were not so noticeably different to stock, I would not care. It made the car .2 seconds fast in the 1,320 and not to mention can corner a lot better. It's as if that upgrade made the car half German.

[lifespeed]

Then buy a set of NEW control arms and have a machine shop R&R the bushings!!!!

[Motorhead350]

Then buy a set of NEW control arms and have a machine shop R&R the bushings!!!!

I think that is the only option. I will hunt from a few sources, but if Zack says there is no known source, I will have to bite it. Not giving in just yet!

[lifespeed]

I pulled a set off of a few cars in a yard this past weekend. It's easy, but one at a time for sure and make sure the shock is on!

This is still ridiculous. All I need are the bushings and all new control arms are needed for the sake of new bushings that fit???

I guess no one bothers to keep a car or fix a car when it's in the state of needing new control arm bushings. If there was a market for bushings they would be made. Or the quality would be crap to sell you a set every 2 years. Isn't it wonderful how the world works?

For the amount of time and effort you spent in the junkyard you could have R&R'd the control arms on YOUR CAR and had new bushings on your car right now.

[Motorhead350]

They were $125 for a set of used control arms with bushings. They were in workable condition, but when you see people swaping them out for $10 a pack for each control arm, it will get you wondering where the hell you find a $10 pack of NEW ones.