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Help!!! Problem with my new ES Front control arm bushings?????????????????

Old Mar 7, 2002 | 05:55 PM
  #1  
john5.7 87Iroc's Avatar
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Car: An '87 Italian Retard Out Cruisin'
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Help!!! Problem with my new ES Front control arm bushings?????????????????

I just had new Energy Suspension Bushings put in my front control arms. I tried putting the arm back and it wont fit. Its too wide with the bushings on it. Does it matter which way the bushings were pressed in??? My bushings were pressed in facing each other on each control arm( both facing inward toward the center of the arm), did that make a difference or doesn't it matter???? What is my problem any tipsssssss????????????????????
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Old Mar 7, 2002 | 10:22 PM
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moxman's Avatar
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That's pretty normal. You have installed them the right way. The outsides are a slip fit and the insides are press fit. Make sure you have them pressed in all the way. Other than that all I can say is use a rubber mallet and give them a good wack!!!
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Old Mar 8, 2002 | 10:53 AM
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john5.7 87Iroc's Avatar
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From: Pineville, NC US
Car: An '87 Italian Retard Out Cruisin'
Engine: LS1 install in progress
Transmission: 4L60e
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt
Thanks but I not exactly sure what you mean by out side and inside if you are talking about the bushing or the shell. Heres a picture its easier for me to explain with it.
Lets say its a stock control arm. The arrows are the direction my shells were pressed in. Is that right?????? The heads on the shell and bushing seem to stick out farther than stock did. Now because of being pressed in that way it, seems that the distance (where that red line is) is greater now than with the stock bushings. Now I cant fit the the arm back on the car. I can actually get one side in partly but that makes the other impossible to push up into the car. Help???????
Attached Thumbnails Help!!! Problem with my new ES Front control arm bushings?????????????????-armnnnnn.jpg  
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Old Mar 8, 2002 | 11:04 AM
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If they were not pressed in the origanal way then that could be your problem. The lips of the shells should be on the outside edge of the a-arm, not on the inside. How do yours look? Like the picture above the way the arrows point this is the way the shells should have been pressed in. Are those the control arms your using or are you just using that pic as an example?

Last edited by grafx; Mar 8, 2002 at 11:09 AM.
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Old Mar 8, 2002 | 11:33 AM
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john5.7 87Iroc's Avatar
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From: Pineville, NC US
Car: An '87 Italian Retard Out Cruisin'
Engine: LS1 install in progress
Transmission: 4L60e
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt
That was just an example Im using stock control arm. and yes they are pressed in the way the arrows point. The arm just wont fit back into the car though. right now I can see them going in any time soon. thanks

Last edited by john5.7 87Iroc; Mar 8, 2002 at 05:42 PM.
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Old Mar 9, 2002 | 09:59 PM
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Car: 91 RS B4C
Engine: 355
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I had same prob with my es bushings, just used a big dead blow hammer and crowbar to align holes
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Old Mar 9, 2002 | 10:42 PM
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john5.7 87Iroc's Avatar
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From: Pineville, NC US
Car: An '87 Italian Retard Out Cruisin'
Engine: LS1 install in progress
Transmission: 4L60e
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt
I know i ended up doing the same. I just got them in. Had to beat out hell out the cross member where the arm bolts up to widen the gap.
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Old Mar 11, 2002 | 07:43 PM
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Car: 91 Camaro RS
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Thanks for the thread john5.7 it's good info as I was wondering about the ES bushings also. But I still wonder if everyone has as much trouble gettin' these things in. I'm hopin' I'll emulate Coxy on this one. BTW nice web page and I Like the rims.
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