I've started to rebuild the front end on my '84 T/A and I'm having trouble finding a shop that can press out/in the rubber bushings that are in the A-arms. Just how difficult is this operation? Is it something where I may have to take them to a dealer to have it done or is this something I'd have to find a specialty machine shop ('specialty' meaning suspension work) for?

Thanks!

 

David, I did mine myself. I used an air chisel to remove the old bushings and pressed them in on a small press. It is a pain in the butt ....

 

Used a ball joint press to do mine.Worked great and they're available from Harbor Freight for about $40.You'll need an impact wrench too, unless you're a real gorilla.
-Rich-

 

I did mine with a ball joint press too. I must be a gorilla though, no air. Its easier if you have a buddy and/or a vice to hold the arm. Make sure you stick a socket or some sort of spacer in the arm with a press so you don't crush the ends together, makes it easier in the long run.

 

Ball joint presses work good, but since I work at a Chevy dealer there is a special too just for these.....piece of cake! If you talk to your friendly neighborhood mechanic at the dealer, he'd probably let you use the tool to do it with....

Brian
Chevy Tech

 

Thanks, guys. I was starting to think that this might be a specialized job, or worse in that the bushings were 'unservicable' and required that the whole arm be replaced I'll keep asking the shops then - or better yet, I wonder if the local GM dealer might have a line on a shop if they don't do it themselves...

Any recommendations on bushing manufacturer(s)?

Oh, and Rich- if you don't have a impact wrench or gorilla, would that press work just as well with, say a 1/2" cheater bar on it?

 

I recently redid the entire suspension on my 82 -Z- 28. I used the complete kit from preformance suspension technoligies. When i got to the front A-arms I took the arms off and took them to a local Tire Kingdom (chain of tire shops here in the south) They charged me about 25 bucks to pop out the old bushings. I then had a local company powder coat the arms before i pressed in the new bushings and ball joint. Looked Awsome when it was done.
Hope this Helps, Silkworm-

 

Alignment shops should do them, too. I know the one I go to charges $20 to do a set.

 

Oh, and Rich- if you don't have a impact wrench or gorilla, would that press work just as well with, say a 1/2" cheater bar on it? [/B][/QUOTE]

It can be done with a breaker bar, if you clamp the ball joint tool in a vice that's bolted to a bench.(a bench that's not gonna move)
-Rich-

 

Thanks, Rich- I figured I'd have to bolt it to something stable anyway

Alignment/tire shops.... I never would've thought of that!

Thanks again!

 

Any AP store with a machine shop should be able to pop out the old bushings and install the new ones. I got both front A-arms done for $36. That also included the balljoints.

 

I have the Energy Suspension box sitting in my living room at the moment. I just need one question answered.

Could someone describe the ball joint tool/impact wrench method? I'm not a gorilla, BTW.