Prev Owner Removed Control Arm Bushings

danny g

Founding Member

Sep 23, 1999

375

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Oct 7, 2012

#1

• Oct 7, 2012

• #1

I am in the process of rebuilding my rear suspension. Previous owner had put on aftermarket upper and lower control arms. I have everything disassembled. As I am removing the old springs I notice something odd. The contorl arms have no bushings. Just rattling around loosley with the bolt hold ing them in. That explains the part of the crappy/noisy ride on the way home from buying the car. Now I need new bushings. I picked up some stock ones at autozone. Problem is they have a metal sleeve eround them. They would fit if I somehow got them out of the sleeve. Any ideas?

 

boostfrk

10 Year Member

Aug 30, 2011

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Colorado

Oct 7, 2012

#2

• Oct 7, 2012

• #2

danny g said:

I am in the process of rebuilding my rear suspension. Previous owner had put on aftermarket upper and lower control arms. I have everything disassembled. As I am removing the old springs I notice something odd. The contorl arms have no bushings. Just rattling around loosley with the bolt hold ing them in. That explains the part of the crappy/noisy ride on the way home from buying the car. Now I need new bushings. I picked up some stock ones at autozone. Problem is they have a metal sleeve eround them. They would fit if I somehow got them out of the sleeve. Any ideas?

Click to expand...

Not a good way I know of. I've always heard to buy the bushings without the metal sleeve which is what I did when I replaced mine.

Is the metal sleeve still in the control arms that are currently on the car?

 

gearheadboy

15 Year Member

Jan 15, 2003

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Greencastle Pa

Oct 7, 2012

#3

• Oct 7, 2012

• #3

Ya I don't know if Auto Zone bushings would even fit aftermarket control arms. I'd replace the arms. They are cheap. If you mean the axle housing ones, I'd remove the old sleeve from the housing and install the new bushing with the sleeve on it.

 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician

Aug 8, 2003

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NJ

Oct 7, 2012

#4

• Oct 7, 2012

• #4

You sure that you don't have control arms with heim joints?
Rear control arms with no bushings would have a ridiculous amount of play.
You wouldn't even be able to control the car.

I agreed with gearboy, buy new control arms.

Take some pics of what you have, but so far it sounds like you have double adjustables that are just worn out.

 

danny g

Founding Member

Sep 23, 1999

375

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Oct 7, 2012

#5

• Oct 7, 2012

• #5

Yes, there is no sleeve and a ridiculous amount of play. I am pretty shocked. On the drive home I noticed it would pull to one side with even a moderate amount of throttle. and the suspension made alot of clanking noises. I knew the shcks and struts wre blown. The guy had blown tokicos, eibach springs, and tubular conrtol arms with no bushings (non adjsutable). I took your advice and just ordered some sve upper and lowers from late model resto. I got new springs and shocks and quad shocks already.

 

Reactions: gearheadboy

danny g

Founding Member

Sep 23, 1999

375

5

18

Oct 9, 2012

#6

• Oct 9, 2012

• #6

ok, so all of the control arms are off. Except one of the upper ones where it attaches to the frame. There was no bushing in it. Just a bolt and metal sleeve rattling around in there. I got the nut off one end but it seems bolt is fused to the sleeve so it won't unscrew. I think i can fit a small locking plier in there to hold the sleeve while I unbolt it. Vant find my vise grip so I'll pick one up on the way home. I think my only other option is to crank up the sawzall and try to cut through the sleeve and bolt. Any other ideas?

 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician

Aug 8, 2003

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Oct 10, 2012

#7

• Oct 10, 2012

• #7

Just sawzall it, i've had the same thing happen on the bushing on shocks before.

 

95Vert383AOD

15 Year Member

Jun 10, 2008

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New Bedford, MA

Oct 10, 2012

#8

• Oct 10, 2012

• #8

Can you use a screw driver to tap the bolt out from the other side????or stick something like a screwdriver under the head of the bolt while turning it with a vise grip on the sleeve. Lots of spray lube works too.

 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

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Jan 4, 1985

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Oct 10, 2012

#9

• Oct 10, 2012

• #9

2000xp8 said:

Just sawzall it, i've had the same thing happen on the bushing on shocks before.

Click to expand...

^this^

Theres no reason to try a surgically remove those bolts. They're junk regardless if they come out in 10 pieces or just 1.