Control Arm Restauration

[on-to-berlin]

A couple of weeks ago I posted on how to remove the bushings of the front control arm. Since I could not find a good thread on this topic I thought I show how I am restoring mine. Thanks to Muttguru also who sent me a good instruction how to do it.


First I loosend both nuts on the arm.

[on-to-berlin]

Then I punched both pieces so I can put them back together in the same position.

[on-to-berlin]

After that I cut away the rubber so I could see the inner and outer sleeve of the bushing.


Then I drilled the rubber out with a wood drill.

[on-to-berlin]

After all the rubber was gone I cut the outer bushing sleeve in two places.



And used a punch to take out the sleeve.



Once one side is taken out you can easily take out the rod.

[on-to-berlin]

Today I will sand down the arm and rod and install the new bushings.

[rickf]

Do not tighten the nuts against the bushings until the weight of the vehicle is sitting on the suspension. You want the suspension in it's normal position before you tighten the bushings down or else they will be in tension all the time and will fail quickly. Also it will generally cause the vehicle to sit crooked.

[m3a1]

Excellent posts and pictures! Well done. A credit to the forum.

[on-to-berlin]

And here we go with the newly painted arm. I could install one bushing with my little workshop press but for the short bushing my press was too small.
I the beginning I was quite hesitant due to the manual and the fact that it rather seemed complicated. But in the end it was quite fun actually.
Today I took the arm to a workshop with a bigger press and tomorrow I will get it back.
Then I can do the other 3 ones!