Clanking on drivers side over speed bump

Bud27 said:

I finally got to the suspension and the upper control arm bushings on both sides are bad .the drivers side the rubber is completely gone . How do I tackle this ? What do I need to know about removing the control arms safely . Going to replace what ever needs replacing .

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To remove the UCA's you'll need to jack the car up, loosen the torsion bar adjusting bolt so that there's no load on the suspension, separate the UCA from the spindle at the ball joint, and remove the camber bolts. At minimum, anyway.

I would suggest deciding on what you're going to do with the suspension and brakes FIRST though. If the UCA bushings are worn out to the point of being completely gone, there's a chance you've damaged the UCA's. Even if you haven't, that amount of wear would suggest to me that every single bushing in the front suspension will need to be replaced as well.

If you're planning on converting to the later 73+ BBP brakes, you'll need new UCA's, spindles, brakes, bearings, bushings etc. So, your best bet will be to make that conversion before you start replacing the old bushings. Otherwise you'll just end up doing it all again later.

The UCA bushings are fairly easy if you have a shop press. Otherwise, the old threaded rod w/ nuts and spacers works. Photos here. The Chinese C-clamp "ball joint press" might also work. Free rental at Autozone and others. Read up on the "Moog offset bushings". Many use them to get more caster which radial tires need.

The LCA bushings are trickier. There is a sticky on removing them. Some weld a washer to the shell to push against. I pressed the innards out, then cut and folded the shell inward. You can get polyurethane ones from PST, but many here question that design. Forget the factory picture of a torsion bar "grabber" to hammer against. I have always pried the LCA backwards and the T-bar pops right out. Of course remove the LCA pivot front nut first and the little wire circlip at the rear of the T-bar. T-bars are great. Adjustable, lower center of gravity, easily replaceable. Porsches used them, as do some recent trucks.

Ok thanks for the good info going to try and tackle this weekend . Does anyone know of a parts list of what is needed to do disk brake swap? As well as donor cars ?
Thanks in advance .