How To Install Control Arm Bushings Without A Press

All cars have clothing items. These are sacrificial lambs that accept the abuse of road driving so that the main components don't accept to. Many of these come up in the form of bushings or joints. The suspension is where near folks find themselves dealing with these wear items. While engineering science has vastly improved the life of these components, they still need to exist replaced eventually. By the time your vehicle hits the 100-120k mile range, the clock is ticking pretty fast on the usable life most of your suspension bushings and joints. Fifty-fifty if you don't do this job yourself, being educated on how to supersede a control arm bushing will help you improve empathize what your mechanic is really doing.

Rubber bushings perform several functions- vibration damping, noise reduction, and smooth out the ride, but they do wear out. Note the inner and outer sleeves. — Safety bushings perform several functions- vibration damping, noise reduction, and smooth out the ride, but they exercise wear out. Note the inner and outer sleeves.

Replacing these items is a adequately straight frontward process, but there are some tips and tricks to help yous become it washed quickly. There are several methods to get this task completed, and we volition discuss each of them hither. Outset, we must talk about the bushings themselves. A bushing like those used in suspension control arms, consist of three components – outer shell, rubber or polyurethane bushing, and the inner sleeve. The prophylactic is what breaks downwards, though the shell and sleeve oftentimes rust, making them harder to remove. Removal and installation really simply involves the outer vanquish, as this is the part that actually mates to the control arm. This is important to note, as you tin remove the centre bits without actually removing the beat.

Manual Removal Method

This is the hardest method of removing command arm bushings there is, but it is besides the one that gets used the most past non-professionals. Basically, yous place the arm in a vise or just hold on the ground and you lot beat out the command arm bushing with a hammer. It doesn't work well and can easily damage the arm itself.

This is not a control arm, it is a GM 10-bolt rear end. It uses the same type of rubber bushing. We used the manual method to remove this one. — This is not a control arm, information technology is a GM 10-bolt rear end. Information technology uses the same type of rubber bushing. Nosotros used the manual method to remove this one.

The work-around on this method is to utilize an air-hammer and chisel the edges of the shell, driving a series of wedges around the shell. This will compress the shell enough to allow you to bulldoze the crush out of the arm without damaging the arm.

Manual Threaded Press Method

The second method is the easiest option for DIY builders without a full-size press. The beauty of this is the fact that you lot tin can use a tool to make information technology happen. You lot need a ball joint press and the assorted cups and possible a socket to lucifer the outer crush of the control arm bushing.

A ball joint press makes the process easier if you don't have access to a press. Just set it up as you would hydraulic press and use a wrench to operate the screwjack. — A ball joint press makes the procedure easier if y'all don't have access to a press. Only gear up it upward every bit you would hydraulic press and use a wrench to operate the screwjack.

Simply gear up up the press with a big cup on the arm that is big enough to have the outer beat. Select a commuter that matches the diameter of the outer beat for the inside of the control arm bushing (where y'all will be pressing information technology out), and slowly bulldoze the control arm bushing out. Reverse the operation to install the new bushing.

Hydraulic Press Method

This is the easiest and fastest method to removing and installing control arm bushings. The same bones steps from the threaded printing are utilized to perform this functioning.

A hydraulic <a href="https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_7761489?cid=social_blog_072017_control_arm_bushing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shop press</a> is easiest, but you need to be careful not to crush the arm. — A hydraulic store press is easiest, but you need to be conscientious non to beat the arm.

Choose two large sockets, one that fits over the large end of the bushing (where it will be pushed out), and a smaller one to match the outside shell on the other side. The smaller socket needs to fit inside the hole for the bushing in the arm. — Cull two large sockets, one that fits over the big end of the bushing (where it will be pushed out), and a smaller one to match the outside shell on the other side. The smaller socket needs to fit inside the hole for the bushing in the arm.

If you need to press out the rubber, the same process works, just use a smaller socket that fits on the rubber portion and not the shell. — If you lot demand to press out the rubber, the same process works, but apply a smaller socket that fits on the rubber portion and not the shell.

All done, ready to press in the new bushing. — All done, set up to press in the new bushing.

The key to all of these processes are ensuring that the control arm is not damaged, peculiarly on stamped steel arms that tin be crushed if your drive cup hits the edges of the arm and not the outer shell. There are some bushings that require reusing the outer shell, make certain you know which type yous take earlier you start working on it. The labor it takes to replace a command arm bushing tin be a chore, but with the right tools you should be done in no time. As always, when in doubt, visit the experts at your local NAPA AutoCare Center if you lot aren't comfortable doing this job.

Bank check out all the tools & equipmentbachelor on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on how to supercede a control arm bushing, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA Machine PARTS store.

Jefferson Bryant View All

A life-long gearhead, Jefferson Bryant spends more than time in the shop than anywhere else. His career began in the car audio industry as a shop managing director, eventually working his style into a position at Rockford Fosgate every bit a product designer. In 2003, he began writing tech manufactures for magazines, and has been working as an automotive journalist ever since. His work has been featured in Car Arts and crafts, Hot Rod, Rod & Custom, Truckin', Mopar Muscle, and many more. Jefferson has also written 4 books and produced countless videos. Jefferson operates Red Dirt Rodz, his personal garage studio, where all of his mag articles and tech videos are produced.