Main Menu

Best way to r and r lower control arm bushings

Started by Purepony, March 09, 2021, 12:03:33 AM

Previous topic Next topic

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Purepony

Here's the plan.

Use jackstands on k member, Remove tires, rotor loosen bolt under control arm and start from the front strut rod ?

Any pointers or anything I should know on removing and replacing lower control arm bushings ?

I plan to take them in to get pressed if I can't get them out or In

Thanks all

MoparLeo

#1
First, download a Service Manual from the Resources tab on this site. Read the front end section. It will give good info on servicing the front end.
And always have a buddy to help you. Safer that way. It is easy to get injured when working on suspension components especially with limited knowledge the first time.
Follow the manual and use good quality jack stands.
There are also usually Youtube videos available for most services. Just be aware that some of the people on Youtube are not always safe in what they do..
Have a clean area to work in and don't rush yourself.

:tool:
moparleo@hotmail.com  For professionally rebuilt door hinges...

dodj

Loosen off torsion bar adj bolt. Remove strut nut from lca. Remove lower shock bolt.  Pop off lower ball joint.  Remove tbar spring clip. Loosen lca pivot bolt so the nut is flush with end of threads.  With a hammer, tap lca and tbar rearward. Remove tbar.  Remove lca nut and remove lca.
And I agree with Leo, dl a service manual,  especially if it's free.   :bigthumb:
"There is nothing your government can give you that it hasn't already taken from you in the first place" -Winston Churchill


Purepony

No buddies available only going to be able to do this solo

dodj

#4
It's a solo job...

Edit: of course it's more fun with a friend  :drinkingbud:
"There is nothing your government can give you that it hasn't already taken from you in the first place" -Winston Churchill

71383bee

It's a doable job. Like dodj suggested except I take off the strut rod nuts and use a pry bar between the k member and the Lca and lever it out.  It pushes the t bar back too. Sometimes the t bar gets hung up in the lca socket. I spray it with penetrating oil first for a day or do.   Don't forget to unload the t bars. Very important! 

There was a great write up in mopar muscle years ago that explained it. It's likely out there somewhere.   It talked about pulling the whole assembly out from both upper control arms down off the k member to rebuild the full suspension. The harder part is separating out the lower ball joints.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
73 Challenger Rallye - 340 4 speed - K6 w/ White Top
70 Challenger Convertible - 318 Auto - K5 w/ White Top

73_Cuda_4_Me

73 340 `Cuda 727 Auto on Column

BS23H3B


Plum70Dodge

I put PST bushing in my lowers. They did not come pre-installed in the bushing metal shell.
Had I known this ahead of time I would have simply burned the bushing out with a propane torch,
cleaned up the inner shell with steel wool and popped the bushing into the old shell.

MoparLeo

Anything is doable alone, just not always the best advice for someone, especially if they haven't done it before. I have hired guys that had gone to UTI for over a year and couldn't do an oil change properly, not because they were dumb, but because they didn't take that in class.
Remember that not everybody has the same mechanical aptitude or experience.
Even if they can't physically help you, 4 eyes are better than 2. Get that service manual...
moparleo@hotmail.com  For professionally rebuilt door hinges...

Cudajason

Quote from: dodj on March 09, 2021, 06:45:27 AM
Loosen off torsion bar adj bolt. Remove strut nut from lca. Remove lower shock bolt.  Pop off lower ball joint.  Remove tbar spring clip. Loosen lca pivot bolt so the nut is flush with end of threads.  With a hammer, tap lca and tbar rearward. Remove tbar.  Remove lca nut and remove lca.
And I agree with Leo, dl a service manual,  especially if it's free.   :bigthumb:

All of the above is good advice!

I will add, that jack stands on the K member may not be the best place.  I would suggest the frame just after the K member.

if you get stuck, take a pic and post on here a number of us have done this before and can help out!

Happy  :wrenching:

Jason
1974 Cuda. 360 / A500 OD.  Yes its pink, no its not my wife's car!  Yes I drive it.


Purepony



Purepony

Finally finished this job
Honestly wasn't as hard as I imagined

It helped that the car is a ca clean car because everything came out smooth


Ifixmycarmyself

Nice, will also be interesting to se how you proceed to replace inner LCA bushing. I have only a 20 ton press and sometime that is not enough. Is there any other diy-supersolution?  :huh:

71383bee

Good to hear!

Now comes the fun part of removing the LCA outer bushing shell!
73 Challenger Rallye - 340 4 speed - K6 w/ White Top
70 Challenger Convertible - 318 Auto - K5 w/ White Top

dodj

Quote from: 71383bee on April 05, 2021, 11:23:56 AM
Now comes the fun part of removing the LCA outer bushing shell!
LMFAO
I welded a washer to it and used the press again to push it out.
"There is nothing your government can give you that it hasn't already taken from you in the first place" -Winston Churchill