Control Arm Bushings - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluec10 · 01-09-2006, 02:35 AM

I'm rebuilding some '84 front end parts to install on my '69. What is the best way to go about replacing the control arm bushings? Any advice?

bluec10 · 01-10-2006, 12:11 AM

ttt - anyone?

Brad · 01-10-2006, 12:54 PM

Once you get the control arms off, take them to a shop and have them press out the old and in with the new. Much easier than doing it yourself and usually not too much $$. Your other option is to burn out the bushings with a torch...

aggiedave98 · 01-11-2006, 12:08 PM

I took mine to a shop and they were able to get some of them off w/ an air chissel. one they had to torch.. you can try a chissel first if you want...

greg0380 · 01-12-2006, 10:50 AM

I did my upper and lower control arm bushings myself. Once you get them off thetruck, clamp one in a vice. Use a drill/bit and drill through the rubber in a number of places all the way around the bushing. There is a metal sleeve that holds the bushing so you wont damage the contol arm. THen use the drill to work the holes together. Then with a little work you should be able to push the bushing rubber only toward the middle of the control arm shaft with a punch. Its alittle work on the first one, but you get the hang of it and the others go quick.

greg0380 · 01-12-2006, 10:52 AM

Forgot to add, once the rubber is out on both sides, the shaft can slide through. To remove the metal part of the bushing, use a cold chisel and hammer and punch the metal part inward in a few spots. Then the metal part will pop out. good luck..

aggiedave98 · 01-12-2006, 12:38 PM

BUT... there's still a chance after after doing all those things that you may need to torch it to expand the metal to get it off... just what happened on mine...

qksilver · 01-12-2006, 08:17 PM

one thing is to make sure that you don't twist or bend the arm in the vise............

bluec10 · 01-12-2006, 11:36 PM

greg0380- your suggestion looks like something I'll try. I'm just stubborn enough to give it a shot even though it sounds like a lot of work. When you do the drilling, do you add any lubricant to the bushings or heat them a bit? Seems to me this might help the pieces slide out a bit easier. What do you think?

greg0380 · 01-15-2006, 07:27 PM

Once I drilled the rubber up, you really wind up shredding it. Its amazingly tough stuff. I did use kroil oil (penetrating lube) that helped. I didn't have to heat anything. I did it in the basement and didn't want to stink up the place. I tried burning bushings out of a rear spring once. What a mess and took forever. Careful, you can break a drill bit if you work it to hard. It was the first time i ever replaced bushings and like i said once you do one, the others are easier.

Btw, new bushings made the front end handle bumps alot better.

Portmod7 · 01-19-2006, 11:12 PM

I have drilled some out before as well. A technique that helpe me was to let the bit get up against the metal around the bushing and it would grab the metal, or the bushing or something and work its self all the way around the bushing breaking the bond between the old rubber and the metal. That along with drilling out as much rubber as I could made it happen. Can't say that it was fun though.

Almost took my head off trying to press them out with c-clamps and big sockets, so I would suggest skipping that step

01-09-2006, 02:35 AM	#1
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Control Arm Bushings I'm rebuilding some '84 front end parts to install on my '69. What is the best way to go about replacing the control arm bushings? Any advice? __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

01-10-2006, 12:11 AM	#2
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Control Arm Bushings ttt - anyone? __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

01-10-2006, 12:54 PM	#3
Brad Out of the carpool lane. Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Clark Co, WA Posts: 5,672	Re: Control Arm Bushings Once you get the control arms off, take them to a shop and have them press out the old and in with the new. Much easier than doing it yourself and usually not too much $$. Your other option is to burn out the bushings with a torch... __________________ 1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten...

01-11-2006, 12:08 PM	#4
aggiedave98 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,007	Re: Control Arm Bushings I took mine to a shop and they were able to get some of them off w/ an air chissel. one they had to torch.. you can try a chissel first if you want...

01-12-2006, 10:50 AM	#5
greg0380 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: CT Posts: 454	Re: Control Arm Bushings I did my upper and lower control arm bushings myself. Once you get them off thetruck, clamp one in a vice. Use a drill/bit and drill through the rubber in a number of places all the way around the bushing. There is a metal sleeve that holds the bushing so you wont damage the contol arm. THen use the drill to work the holes together. Then with a little work you should be able to push the bushing rubber only toward the middle of the control arm shaft with a punch. Its alittle work on the first one, but you get the hang of it and the others go quick. __________________ 1985 GMC Sierra 1500, 1/2 ton, 2WD, LWB, TBI 305 5 speed, 3.42 rear 2007 GMC Sierra 1500, xtended cab, 4X4, flexfuel 5.3L 1999 BMW 528i

01-12-2006, 10:52 AM	#6
greg0380 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: CT Posts: 454	Re: Control Arm Bushings Forgot to add, once the rubber is out on both sides, the shaft can slide through. To remove the metal part of the bushing, use a cold chisel and hammer and punch the metal part inward in a few spots. Then the metal part will pop out. good luck.. __________________ 1985 GMC Sierra 1500, 1/2 ton, 2WD, LWB, TBI 305 5 speed, 3.42 rear 2007 GMC Sierra 1500, xtended cab, 4X4, flexfuel 5.3L 1999 BMW 528i

01-12-2006, 12:38 PM	#7
aggiedave98 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,007	Re: Control Arm Bushings BUT... there's still a chance after after doing all those things that you may need to torch it to expand the metal to get it off... just what happened on mine...

01-12-2006, 08:17 PM	#8
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: Control Arm Bushings one thing is to make sure that you don't twist or bend the arm in the vise............

01-12-2006, 11:36 PM	#9
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Control Arm Bushings greg0380- your suggestion looks like something I'll try. I'm just stubborn enough to give it a shot even though it sounds like a lot of work. When you do the drilling, do you add any lubricant to the bushings or heat them a bit? Seems to me this might help the pieces slide out a bit easier. What do you think? __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

01-15-2006, 07:27 PM	#10
greg0380 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: CT Posts: 454	Re: Control Arm Bushings Once I drilled the rubber up, you really wind up shredding it. Its amazingly tough stuff. I did use kroil oil (penetrating lube) that helped. I didn't have to heat anything. I did it in the basement and didn't want to stink up the place. I tried burning bushings out of a rear spring once. What a mess and took forever. Careful, you can break a drill bit if you work it to hard. It was the first time i ever replaced bushings and like i said once you do one, the others are easier. Btw, new bushings made the front end handle bumps alot better. __________________ 1985 GMC Sierra 1500, 1/2 ton, 2WD, LWB, TBI 305 5 speed, 3.42 rear 2007 GMC Sierra 1500, xtended cab, 4X4, flexfuel 5.3L 1999 BMW 528i

01-19-2006, 11:12 PM	#11
Portmod7 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Aztec, NM Posts: 388	Re: Control Arm Bushings I have drilled some out before as well. A technique that helpe me was to let the bit get up against the metal around the bushing and it would grab the metal, or the bushing or something and work its self all the way around the bushing breaking the bond between the old rubber and the metal. That along with drilling out as much rubber as I could made it happen. Can't say that it was fun though. Almost took my head off trying to press them out with c-clamps and big sockets, so I would suggest skipping that step

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