Control arm bushing help..

[00S104.3]

Today I finally got around to working on installing my new Prothane polyurethane control arm bushings and Power Performance ball joints, but I hit a bit of a snag.:mad:

I got the driver's side control arms off and got the old bushings, sleeves and ball joints removed from the control arms but I'm having trouble getting the new bushings and sleeves back into the arms. It's 7:30ish now and all of the shops are closed so I can't take the arms to have them pressed out. I'm trying to use a ball joint press to get the new bushings in. It seems like the bushing will start going in but then it's bending the arm when I crank on it. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could use?

I appreciate the help.

[Danzcameo]

I use a vice and drive them in with an oversize socket and a three pound hammer

[12sws27]

Put some dish soap on them too?

[Danzcameo]

Theres a method to installling those-i use the vise to support the arm from bending and a large socket to drive the bushing in slow and straight
wish i had pics for ya. but i dont sorry

[T Man]

Always used a vice and a large socket

[00S104.3]

I use a vice and drive them in with an oversize socket and a three pound hammer


Theres a method to installling those-i use the vise to support the arm from bending and a large socket to drive the bushing in slow and straight
wish i had pics for ya. but i dont sorry



Always used a vice and a large socket

Ok, I'll try my vise and a socket.



Put some dish soap on them too?

I used spray lubricant and also tried the grease that came with the bushings. I'll try the dish soap.


Any other suggestions please post them up. I'm hoping to get this job done before Saturday. Thanks Everyone.:thumbup_1

[T Man]

the grease is supposed to go between the bushing and the sleeve. Keeps it from squeaking

[Jongo88]

Did you get them in yet??

[00S104.3]

the grease is supposed to go between the bushing and the sleeve. Keeps it from squeaking

The bushings are supposed to already be greased but they came with a little packet of grease so you can re-grease them if you remove the bushing from the sleeve for installation. I just thought I'd try a little of the grease to install the sleeves. It didn't seem to work.:mad: Once I got the sleeves in then I greased the crap out of the bushings again so hopefully I will have no squeaks.


Did you get them in yet??

I got the driver's side bushings and ball joints in and mostly put back together. Using the vise helped a lot but it was still a lot of work. I had to re-position everything in the jaws of the vice several times. The arms still tried to bend a little but I used my trusty BFH and all was well.:D

It's 3:45 am now so I'm stopping to get some rest and then I'll hit the other side hard tommorrow.

Thanks everyone for all the help and suggestions:You_Rock_

[00S104.3]

Finally done. The passenger side went a little smoother since I pretty much figured out how to get the old bushings out and the new ones in. It was most time consuming just trying to get the upper control arm off. One of the bolts was not cooperating at all. The lower ball joint was a bit tough because it kept trying to go in crooked. After a few tries it finally went in straight.

Once I get everything back together I took my truck for a spin. So far everything seems good. It pulls slightly to the right which I'm hoping the alignment will fix.

The front end is significantly tigher all around with the polyurethane bushings. I love how it feels now. It was never really sloppy before but after installing the new parts it feels way better.

Thanks again for the help.

[T Man]

Finally done. The passenger side went a little smoother since I pretty much figured out how to get the old bushings out and the new ones in. It was most time consuming just trying to get the upper control arm off. One of the bolts was not cooperating at all. The lower ball joint was a bit tough because it kept trying to go in crooked. After a few tries it finally went in straight.

Once I get everything back together I took my truck for a spin. So far everything seems good. It pulls slightly to the right which I'm hoping the alignment will fix.

The front end is significantly tigher all around. I love how it feels now. It was never really sloppy before but after installing the new parts it feels way better.

Thanks again for the help.

Unless you boogered up something pretty badly, Id say it oughta. Did you put the shims back in the same place they came from?

[00S104.3]

Unless you boogered up something pretty badly, Id say it oughta. Did you put the shims back in the same place they came from?

It was already pulling a bit to the right before I touched anything. I'm very OCDish when it comes to making sure everything goes back where it was right down to each and every bolt. The shims all went back where they came from.