I am recently trying to redo my front end on my 67' lesabre, I am having issue getting my upper control arm bushings out. I have removed all the rubber, but the metal casing seems to be welded ino No: ? have anyone else run into this issue and if so how was it resolved?
You can rent a tool specifically made for removing the upper cntrol arm bushings. It is basically like a ball joint press, except there is an opening to fit that bar that links between the two bushings. I rented mine from a Checker Auto, which is the same as Murrays. Or you can buy one for about $100.
I'm doing the same thing right now in my 67. The old ones were a PITA to get out, and the new ones seem even worse to get back in! If i'd had known, I probably would've kept them in. I'm still stuck trying to get the new ones in, and am about to go rent a press/tool for it. For the old ones to come out....we would up cutting into it with a sawzall, made the cut into the part of the sleeve that sticks out, then bashed the sleeve down toward the center of the hole. P.I.T.A. http://www.umiperformance.com/product_details.php?category_id=20&item_id=401518 thats whats going on the 67 w/ a matching swaybar...
I've always just removed the upper A arms and brought them to a good parts store. You can buy the bushings and they remove your old ones and install the new ones. It's worth it, and it doesn't cost that much.
usually I sawzaw the center area of bushing and then give the bushing a couple of wackes with a chisel just enough to collapse them ...and they usually just fall out
Be sure to fab some kind of spacer for beteen 2 sections of arm where bushings press in; bendind these will ruin you alignment. usually i cut a piece of tubing or pie about 1/16 thinner than gap between where bushing goes.
Guys, Just some info and a word of caution. Always check to ensure the bushings are the correct diameter. I'm speaking from recent experience with some rear control arm bushings on my '66 Special. Trying to save a few $, I ordered the Summit brand and found they were made in China. After several hours of trying to install one of them, I could not even get it started..... so I measured them and found them larger than the one I removed (don't remember the amount). To Summit's credit, they shipped me the Moog bushings with next day delivery and picked up the others. It took less than an hour to put all of the Moog bushings in. Although 3x more expensive, the cost of the Moog ones was worth it just due to the frustration factor, not to mention the risk of screwing up your control arms. Steve
