How do you remove front lower control arm bushings?

Can anyone tell me where I can find a procedure or explain how to R&R the lower control arm bushings (for the front) on a 64 Skylark. I alrady have the control arms off the car.

 

Pay someone else to do it! It took me hours with hand tools. I know some people who claim the set the rubber on fire to help remove them! I passed on that method. Probably smells like the dragstrip though :3gears:

 

Well I got them off ...

with a hand chisel (no air chisel).

Now I can't get the upper ball joints off. I might just go out and buy an air chisel to knock off the rivets.

 

Go to a good auto parts store that does work (not an auto zone type place)and pay them to press them out.


or

http://www.hrpartsandstuff.com/

sells a tool to remove them
Control Arm Bushing Tool
This Bushing Tool (Part #0599)

 

I drilled staight through my rivets then they chipped out pretty easy.

 

If you plan on doing more work in the future....get an air chisel.
Get 2 tips, one dull and one sharp.

Use the sharp one to cut the rivets. Should not take more than 20-30 seconds to cut all four.

Use the dull one to crush the outer bushing sleeve inward and then use a hammer to pop them out. Once you get a routine down, you can do a bushing every 1-2 mins.

 

George you are right that would be a good investment.

 

I used the loaner ball-joint press at Autozone for both the ball joints and the bushings.

 

thanks for all the help

I got em out got the new ones installed along with the new ball joints, upper bushings and springs.

Replaced everything except the control arms themselves, now I've got an entirely "new" front suspension on my Buick ... and a new air chisel to boot (talk about a fun tool).

I do have a couple of unexpected "problems" which may now need fixing though:

1. Do to the new springs, the front end is sitting about 3 inches higher than it was with the tired worn out ones. The slammed low rider look I had is gone. I guess I will get used to it once I replace the rear springs and even it out.

2. I was using some low profile 60 series tires on 14 inch rims, they looked cool with the tops hiding under the top of the fender well, now with the front end riding higer they look like donut sized spares. I don't know if I will get used to this, and I may have to just replace them.

Thanks again everyone for all the help!

 

i know that this tread is old but i found a good way to get those bushings out. use a hole saw that is as close to the diameter as the rubber and drill away. once it is out the shell shrinks just a bit and mine popped right out with a couple of hits with a hammer. i have used the air chisle before and it is time consuming and creates more work. also if you don't mind the smell light the rubber on fire and they melt out.

 

Fire??? I can't believe I didn't think of that ou: .

 

Last time I did the job (with about 150k miles and 16 years on the chassis) I found the bushings just fall out. :laugh: ou:

So I say "drive it a few more miles first."