Upper Control arm bushing replacement

[mattcrp1]

Hi all I thought I would share how I installed my prothane control arm bushings. I bought them from AZproperformance, and it was a great price. These are the inserts and not the whole shell. I started with an initial clean up in the hot tank to get the crud off. As you can see from the pics my bushings were shot. I then removed the nuts and washers, hit the shaft and collar with PB blaster and mounted the arm in the vise.

[mattcrp1]

Once in the vise and soaked with PB blaster, I break the cross shaft free from the collar and bushings. After it moves freely I begin to cut away the rubber from the collar I grab my drill and punch a few holes in the bushing. Once a few holes are drilled I can grab the collar with a pair of channel locks and pull it out.

[mattcrp1]

Once the collar is out a simple pick or screw driver can remove the old bushing. After the bushing is out the cross shaft slips out the old shell. Once the shaft is out of the way simply knock out the other collar and remove the other bushing the same way. Now a little more cleaning and I am almost ready to re assemble.

[mattcrp1]

Now for the reassembly, I found that if you lubricate the inside of the shell with the supplied lube and a little bit of transprep or petroleum jelly type product the bushings will go in a little easier. Also when installing the bushings I found it easier to not have the gold color collar fully in the new bushing but maybe hanging out about 3/4-1 inch. Now when pressing the bushing in take care not to move the shell in the arm.

[mattcrp1]

Once one side is in and seated the cross shaft is lubricated and installed. At this point I install the nuts and washers to help drive in the bushing. I will also use a spacer under the washer as to give room for the collar to not be totally in the bushing as it is being installed. Don't forget to lubricate the inside of the shell and not seat the collar in the bushing. I also will mount the arm in the vise by the cross shaft and use a big socket and hammer to drive the bushing home. Once seated you are done and there you have it, R/R of control arm bushings. The lowers are the same and some people use a torch to do part of the job I just showed, I did these at work and the guys in the stalls next to me don't like the smell. LOL I hope this helped some one.

[Pro Performance]

Very nice write-up and thanks for sharing!

[82ZZZR]

Agreed, nice write up.

[Bigdogg]

Does anyone know where i can buy some lower control arms for my 81 C10 truck 2wheel drive? I have bought the upper ones new and now im having trouble locating new lower control arms.All help apprecaited. my email address is tjavery@eastman.com thanks

[82ZZZR]

I have some used ones that need new bushings, or are you looking for ones ready to bolt on?

[Slowlane37]

Hi Matt,

Nice write up - but I lost you after the vice picture of the prothane bushing. Would you please let me know what I got wrong below:

(black bushing and vice install pic) Seating a greased black bushing by itself. No brass bushing yet. Be sure not to move the control arm shell in the control arm.

(C-clamp picture) Pressing in a greased brass bushing into the previously installed black bushing.

(control arm, shaft, bushings pic) Once one side is complete (black bushing installed into shell, brass bushing installed into black)

clean, lube and insert cross shaft.

apply washer and nut on finished side.

lube black bushing and get started into other side until nut and washer can be applied to press greased black bushing into place.

Remove the incomplete sides nut and washer, slide greased busing onto shaft and again use nut and washer to seat brass bushing into black busing.

?