Lower Control Arm Bushings

[goldduster360]

My original LCA bushings finally completely and totally gave out. Posting a few pics of the fun.

 

[goldduster318]

oh yeah...that's done

 

[goldduster360]

Here is one more

 

[goldduster318]

There should have been a spring clip in the torsion bar socket to keep the torsion bar in.

 

[goldduster360]

There should have been a spring clip in the torsion bar socket to keep the torsion bar in.

Yep, hung it on the jack stand handle so I don't lose it. LCA came out really easy with the t- bar able to float backwards a few inches.

 

[goldduster360]

Gonna swap these bars in:

 

[goldduster360]

Stub shaft with inner shell still attached

 

[goldduster360]

After hacksawing and chiseling.

 

[goldduster360]

Levering out outer shell after air chisel work.

 

[goldduster360]

Pressing stub shaft (pivot shaft) into new bushing first.

 

[goldduster360]

Seated in nicely ready to press into LCA.

 

[goldduster360]

Pressing it in the arm.

 

[goldduster360]

Got it in, ready for new ball joint.

 

[goldduster360]

 

[340doc]

Nice work!

 

[Ben Drinkin]

Nicely done. Just did the same thing myself. Wasn't near as bad as some of the horror stories I've read.

 

[goldduster360]

Nicely done. Just did the same thing myself. Wasn't near as bad as some of the horror stories I've read.

I had dreaded doing this job for several years, was pretty darn easy with power tools and a shop press. disassembly was a breeze, don't even need a torsion bar tool, prying on the LCA simply pushed it and the T-Bar back far enough to clear the pivot shaft and then pull the arm off the hex on the T-bar. No busted knuckles or even cussing this timeO

I decided to make it a bigger job by replacing the tie rod ends and ball joints, the lowers were replaced 25yrs ago with JC Whitney stuff and the boots are torn to shreds. May as well do it right the first time. Here is a pic showing it ready to come off the car for anybody contemplating the complexity of this job:



You can see pivot shaft stayed in the k-member when arm was levered off due to rubber bushing being completely torn/separated from inner/outer shell. Only thing that keeps that shaft from spinning on re-install is the press fit of the bushing. You may need to hold that pivot shaft with vise grips during removal of nut on opposite side of k-member (not shown), even if you use an impact wrench.

 

[Ben Drinkin]

Don't you wish every disassembly went off without excessive cussing. I had to use a piece of angle iron and a couple of u-bolts to get the t-bars out.

 

[66fyssh]

Nice work! That project is on my list. It's one I've never done but I'm game to take it on!

 

[goldduster360]

I sprayed my LCA and torsion bars with a concoction of rustoleum, acetone and synthetic enamel hardner. Man this stuff is cheap and it cross links to form a semi shiny black finish that is chemical resistant and cures in only 12 hours compared to 3 days straight out of the can. I didn't want to waste imron on stuff that gets a coat of road film. Couldn't believe how much harder this stuff sets up this way, almost like two part auto enamel. If I want more shine I cut it with enamel/urethane reducer.

 

[MOPARMITCH]

Very nice work there !!!