In the past I have cut the insides of the bushings out and then manipulated the outside ring out. I have pressed new ones in with my shop press but always afraid of "squishing" them. I need to grab a ball joint press, can use that? And is there some mystery spacer, socket or something you guys have used (where my fingers are) so the arm ends do not get squished? Thanks
I burn the rubber out until I can push them out with a screwdriver. Then use sawzall to cut the shell all the way across. Then use an air hammer or just beat it out. I reinstall on my little press with a piece of angle iron cut to width inside the arm.
Thanks. That's what I did last time. Seems like the way to go. Just seems like there should be any easier way as it's so time consuming. Especially when you have to do all front and rear.
When I did it, I drilled 1/4" holes thru the rubber. over and over again, then just started sawing the drill bit up and down until I could wack the center out. Then beat the sleeve over and out.
If you look in your service manual, there's a special spacer that fits in between to prevent the sides from squishing in on the control arms
Need one of those.. that's cool! I ended up using the drill method to remove the rubber on all 10. Still need to cut/pry out the outside metal ring but the drill method worked great... even better than the guy in the video.
I've always scrounged up some kind of spacer (usually a socket) to keep the sides of the arm from collapsing. With the sides of the U properly supported, you can press out the old bushing.
You can use a press or one of these - kits are cheap on line. Quick and easy. I use sockets if the kit doesn't have a good fit pusher. I put a spacer( not shown in pic) between the ears to keep from crushing/bending them - you can make them out of pipe. I make a few different widths because arms are different - maybe a 16th" different. You want it snug - tap it in with a hammer. The spacer will be tight when done but you can pry it out with a screwdriver. On front uppers you can use an air chisel - just catch the lip on on the outside and it will walk right out. I don't like the saw method for fear of cutting the arm.
