Front Control arm Bushing replacement

[BuiltwithIvy]

Does anybody have a good write up on how to replace front control arm upper and lower bushings? Mine are shot, and I have the control arms off, just don't have any of the info on them, and my Haynes book just says take it to someone else....... I tried searching and didn't find anything that helps. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[chevyrestoguy]

You have a couple of options

One, take them to someone else

Two, burn out the rubber with a torch

Three, get an air chisel with a flat tip and drive them out (easiest, best way)

[BuiltwithIvy]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

You have a couple of options

One, take them to someone else

Two, burn out the rubber with a torch

Three, get an air chisel with a flat tip and drive them out (easiest, best way)

All are great options for the rear, however, none of them are great options for the FRONT, thank you though.

[chevyrestoguy]

I meant the front when I posted it.
All of the options will work, but the easiest way is to get an air chisel with a flat blade and with the control arm on the ground, put the blade under the metal lip on the bushing and hit the trigger, the bushing will move out slightly, so flip the control arm do it again to the opposite side of the bushing. Keep flipping the arm until the bushing comes out. When you get the first bushing out, the cross-shaft will slide out.

I just did mine about 3 weeks ago, and it took me 10 minutes max to drive out the upper and lower bushings. If you haven't decided on what style of bushings to replace your stockers with, I highly recommend Energy Suspension bushings. They are super easy to install, and aren't much more than stock bushings. Just have a bunch of rags ready. The silicone grease that they come with is the nastiest stuff ever. It gets everywhere.

[usmcchevy]

If you are talking about the arms off your '69, then they are the threaded steel bushing type. Buy all new bushings and shafts, remove all the old stuff and install new. When you install the new ones be sure to center the shafts and torque the bushings. I can explain the how I centered mine and get you the torque values later if you would like.

[chevyrestoguy]

Originally Posted by usmcchevy

If you are talking about the arms off your '69, then they are the threaded steel bushing type. Buy all new bushings and shafts, remove all the old stuff and install new. When you install the new ones be sure to center the shafts and torque the bushings. I can explain the how I centered mine and get you the torque values later if you would like.

Sorry, BuiltwithIVY, I stand corrected. I should have looked at your profile and noticed that you were talking about your '69. I was referring to the 73-up method in my post. After I discovered this, I had to chuckle about what would have happened if you took a torch or an airchisel to your threaded bushings

[El Campo]

Speaking of the 73 up and Energy Suspension it's been a while since I did mine and I want to repaint the control arm. Can't remember if the bushing is independent from the metal casing. Do u recall? Can I just slip the bushing itself out and leave the metal casing in?
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[chevyrestoguy]

^^^^yes, you are correct. The casing and the bushing are seperate units