I am redoing the entire steering linkage and noticed that the control arm bushings are craked. Has anyone taken the front control arms off to replace these bushings? If so is it a pain in the @$#?

 

Sure I've done mine. I suggest you look at a Chilton's or something though. Be aware there IS spring tension on it!! As for the bushings themselves, once you get the control arms out, I found it easier to just take them to a machine shop to have the old ones pressed out and the new pressed in.

It's not too bad....

 

Thanks. Guess I need to get this done.

 

You can press them out yourself, I did mine. The best thing to use is a large bench vice and a can of silicone spray lube. Set up the A arm with something to push the bushing out and tighten the vice on it, as the bushing starts to move it will get to a point and stop. Spray it with the silicone and let it sit 5 minutes and retighten the vice, keep doing that until it is out of the A arm. Do the same for installing the new ones.

 

Good point Morley! You can press them out yourself w a decent sized bench vice, but I tried that on mine and was afraid I'd end up bending the control arm itself cause they were in there seriously tight!!

If you try it yourself, just make sure you are pressing them out as straight as possible or they'll get cocked and REALLY jam up!

 

i burnt mine out with a torch