It's that time, time to replace all suspension bushings. With the MT scavenger headers the upper control arm bushing on the passenger side is a problem. Anyone tried this or succeeded without removing the passenger side header? Maybe jacking the engine up? Can you even remove the header? Don't know if it will go out the bottom or not. I've got AC, but the compresser has not been re-installed yet. Need help fast.... ou:
I have replaced multiple sets of bushings and the only way is to get the arm out of the car and do it out on the bench with big ugly tools and lots of swearing. If you are thinking about trying to do it in place, forget it.
So if I remove the bolts from the header flange and the bolts at the collector I can remove the upper control arm without removing the header completely? If not will the header come out the bottom (doughful)? I'm having the shop do this job, I'm just trying to give them ideas/advice. Thanks.
And when you actually go to replace the bushing, the labor savings when using Polyurethane is enough to make this an easy DIY project. Burn out the old rubber, clean up the outer shell. Push the new poly bushing and inner sleeve in place. Torque the fasteners whenever it's convenient. If you use rubber bushings, you have to press out the outer shell, press in the new bushing/shell assembly, and the fasteners have to be torqued with the suspension at normal ride height.
Take all header bolts loose. and let it hang and you can move out of the way enough to get upper arm off.
Well I just called the shop, they said they've got the front uppers done. They removed the bolt that holds the upper A-arm and slid the control arm out without loosening the header or motor mounts. :TU: The lowers and sway bar links are also being replaced on the front. The rear is already done as well, looks like I'll be picking it up later today! One interesting discovery was found on the rear. The passenger side (boxed) lower control arm was backwards. So the previously boxed section of the control arm had to be redone, and sway bar re-attached. The shop said the lower arm looked like it was installed that way from the factory. I'm looking forward to more stable runs at the track as soon as I get the new tach installed (I did the 6AL last week as well). It's nice to get back to car projects for a change, much more fun than house projects.
