Front Control Arm Bush Question.

[Gav240z]

I need help as I'm a bit stuck with replacing my front control arm bushes. Ok so I've managed to get the old one out by burning it out so that's fine. The problem is the new ones I've got. The package says front lower control arm bushes. I suspect however there the rear ones.

One has a label saying front the other rear but I believe the rear control arm has two bushes on it. So I think they've given me the wrong ones. As I understand the front has only one main bush that connects to the cross member. I need the rear ones anyway so that's not a problem.

I have included a picture of what I'm trying to replace so you know what I'm doing. Picture is thanks to EricB's picture gallery.

[kinfish]

Just replaced these bushings on my '71Z. Picture looks about right. The bushing with the thicker flange must be on the rear side of the control arm. The thinner one goes on the front side. The package should then fit snugly to the frame mount. Hard part is getting the old sleeve out and then cleaning the old rubber from the control arm ID. Good luck!

[2ManyZs]

One thing I found when I did mine was the bushings "flanges"were too think to allow them to be put in the crossmember. I solved the problem by using a piece of 1/2in all thread rod, two nuts, and two large flat washers and used them as a spreader so the bushings would go into the crossmember. Place the all thread rod through one side of the mounting hole in the crossmember, put on a flat washer, then two nuts and then the other flat washer. Center the all thread and turn the nuts in opposite directions and it will spread the crossmember out enough that the bushings will slide into place.

Kinfish is correct, the hardest part is removing the outer shell of the stock bushings. If you have an air chisel and a good bit you can slide them out fairly easily. Be careful not to knick the control arm, if you do, use a round file and clean up the inside of the control arm before putting in the new bushings.

You have two halves for the front bushings and the rear should have 4 for the inner and 4 for the outer if you are doing all of them. Plus your mounting bolt sleeves.....

[Gav240z]

Ok this was a pain in the bum of a job so here's how I went about it in order to help others who might get stuck or need help in future.

First issue for me was undoing the bolt that connects the control arm bush to the crossmember. It was really tight on both sides so tight I rounded one side of the bolt. Solution to use vice grips and pry it off. I also use a long pipe over my rachet to give me extra torque when turning it as it was very tight.

with that done I removed the other side from the strut where the ball joints are. I replaced the ball joints on both sides while I was at it. That's fairly straight forward I can elaborate for some who might need help but for now it's the bushes.

Ok so I got the control arm out. The old bush? Well this is what I did, and I emphasise to be carefull. I soaked the bush in fuel for a while and placed a brick and cement sheeting under it because there both non flamable. I poured some fuel into the top part of the brick where there's a gap and sat the control arm ontop of it

The cement sheeting went underneath.

I stood back and lit a match and woof it lit up. I grabbed a pair of gloves and when it finished burning I took it to my vice and slapped it out with a big hammer. No problems came out nicely . Note I could have used a propane torche but the fuel ran out so this was the next best thing.

After I got those out I tried to see how the hell I'd fit the new bushings and thought not gonna happen so I took them down to be pressed in by driveshaft shop.

With those done I had to put it back in the car??? How??? there way too bit and trying to hammer it back in wasn't working and I didn't wanna beat up the control arm. So I used a piece of wood and the car jack and applied grease to the crossmember and bushes to help it slide in. Still no go they were way too big. and it was just lifting the car aswell as damaging the urethane bushing. Solution?

I have a grinder that's the same as using a file and I filed it down a bit on each side so that it was a tiny bit thinner keeping it consistant and even on both sides aswell as trying not to ruin the urethane.

I used the jack the piece of wood as protection for the control arm and jacked it up into the crossmember. It wasn't an easy fit still but it finally slapped into place.

The rest was just reassembly if anyone has any questions or suggestions let me know I'd usually not file the bush down but it was really a tight fit.

[Gav240z]

I'm finally a professional Z car nut

[St.stephen]

for further help....I used 2 half inch breaker bars and 19 mil impact sockets to get my control arm bolts loose. they were tight, but broke loose easily with the aid of some WD-40

[Victor Laury]

Putting in the urethane bushes went very smooth for me. Hearing all the gymnastics some of you guys went through, makes me feel like I missed something.

I followed Kyle's write up on the task, and everything kinda slipped in without a hitch. No big mallets, fires, thermonuclear devices, hydraulic presses needed.

I missed all the fun!

[Black Beaut]

Hi,

Sorry to dig up this old thread but it's on the right subject for me at the moment. I'm going to be tackling the control arms this weekend and wondered if anyone has any DIY alternatives for removing the original bushes other then burning them?

I've only been able to find this one (very helpful) write up on the job:

http://www.AtlanticZ.ca/zclub/techtips/suspension/frontcontrolarm/index.html

Cheers,

Rob

[ChrisA]

Hey Rob, I used a small arbor press to push the bushings out of the control arm. Very quick, no mess. You can buy presses that are manual or hydraulic powered. Mine is hydraulic. I used a chunk of black pipe to support the sleeve that's welded to the arm. Then used an impact socket to match the diameter of the bushing and whammo pressed them right out. Have done this on four Z's and it is slick. If you choose to install stock bushing (lord knows why) them slather anti seize on them and press them back in.

Much Luck,

Chris

[Black Beaut]

Thanks Chris!

Seems that Ebay-UK has a pretty reasonable price 1 ton press just begging to be added to my junk collection

Cheers,

Rob

[Marty Rogan]

When I did mine, I tried the torch 'em out method. That took too long and the toxic fumes were nasty. Instead, I drilled dozens of holes into the rubber until I could pull the inner sleeve out with vice grips. You can then use a hack saw to get the outer casing out. Like someone else said, don't cut into the control arm!

Read the directions on the bushing kit first. Some of them require you to reuse the outer casing. If you cut it out, you will have a real problem.

Good luck with it!

Marty

[Black Beaut]

That's sounds like another good method, thanks Marty.

Should've said that I'm replacing with Energy Suspension bushes so I don't need to retain the original outer bush, just need loads of silicon grease.

Cheers,

Rob