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Topic: control arm bushing replacements

in Forum: C3 Handling Components


control arm bushing replacements

Posted: 8/10/11 8:46am Message 11 of 20
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Red Lion, PA - USA
Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182
Vette(s): 1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic
now its time to start removing bushings. I use an air chisel with a flat blade and vibrate the bushings from the back. before you do this make sure you get your safety glasses and hearing protection.
Here are the new bushings.  The upper and lower are different sizes the larger goes into the lowers smaller in uppers
I remove the bolts and washers in the bushing ends
with the arm placed into the vice and I dont clamp it that tight that it would bend it I am ready to remove the bushings.
I remove all 4 bushings from the two arms with this method. Im lazy so this makes quick work of them. You could always use a chisel and hammer but that is more work!
this is my installation tool. Its just a 1 5/8" socket that fits over the end of the bushings.
I put the bushings in by tapping them with a hammer.
It doesnt take that much to drive them flush.
Once the first bushing is in I put the mounting bar back in then put the remaining bushing in.
this completes the bushing installation. I put the washers and nuts back on the ends but I wont tighten them till after my engine is back in so all the weight is loaded on the arms and bushings.
Now also when I'm this far i replaced the ball joints. again I chisel the rivots out using the air chisel.
then knock out the rivots and the ball joints. I cleaned everything up then painted the arms, and spring then I installed the new ball joints using the nuts and bolts supplied to tighten them too the arms. 
Of course there was a bunch more cleaning and painting to complete this.
Engine compartment painted close to finish. Its not going to be a show car so its not getting detailed to perfection! (they say you can only put so much lipstick on a pig becasue it will always be a pig! LOL) But i'm ok with it.
Hope this may help someone that is considering taking on this project. I have other pics if you need any. Just let me know.
Rodney




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control arm bushing replacements

Posted: 8/10/11 10:32am Message 12 of 20
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20218
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
EXCELLENT write-up, Rodney!!! Bravo!


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control arm bushing replacements

Posted: 8/10/11 11:40am Message 13 of 20
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Germansville, PA - USA
Joined: 1/28/2010
Posts: 862
Vette(s): 1974 Coupe 358ci 4 speed Black w/Medium Saddle interior w/79 custom leather seats. . 1999 C5 Convertible, 6 speed, Atomic orange, Oak interior.
What kind of paint did you use to paint everything Question


   

DanT

control arm bushing replacements

Posted: 8/10/11 1:29pm Message 14 of 20
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Red Lion, PA - USA
Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182
Vette(s): 1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic
I actually used POR15. The driver side I did by brush, the Passenger side parts I sprayed with a gun. I will say that the gun is easier and cleans up quicker than I thought it would. Also it goes on smoother as well. Another type of paint I have used in the past is called chassis saver. It too is a poxy type finish. Both dry to a very hard finish and I like both of them. The key is to use the metal ready to prep the parts. This allows the paint to bond.
Rodney




Re: control arm bushing replacements

Posted: 9/10/11 10:28pm Message 15 of 20
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Vancouver, WA - USA
Joined: 8/25/2005
Posts: 869
Vette(s): 1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
Rodney, just in case you're still monitoring this thread, a couple of questions regarding air chisel use to remove the bushings:  

1) On the uppers, is there any worry of dinging up the lip that protrudes from the arm's body?  Just make sure the chisel is hitting the bushing flange, not the lip?  Does the chisel need to be dull so it acts more like a hammer than a chisel?

2) On the lowers, how do you get the chisel started, since the flange of the bushing is flush with the arm?  Again, I'm worried about dinging up the arm....

Thanks,
Dave




 

1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.

Re: control arm bushing replacements

Posted: 9/11/11 4:07am Message 16 of 20
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Red Lion, PA - USA
Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182
Vette(s): 1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic
Dave, using an air chisel should not ding up your arm. On the lower bushing I went straight down then once the bushing moved I started angling it out. Neither of my vettes that I did came out really hard. I am a mechanic by trade so I have done this often over the years. Sometimes you will run into a bushing that will fight you and might take a little extra time but they have always come out this way. If you get a tight one just work from side to side on the bushing. Just be careful that you dont chisel onto the arm instead of the lip of the bushing and you wont ding up your a-arms. the chisel will do the work! You will be glad you used it! When your ready to do it if you have any questions shoot me a PM and I'll send you my phone number so you can call. You can do this!
Rodney



Re: control arm bushing replacements

Posted: 9/11/11 7:50am Message 17 of 20
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HOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
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Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Nice work Rodney!!


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Re: control arm bushing replacements

Posted: 9/11/11 9:33am Message 18 of 20
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Vancouver, WA - USA
Joined: 8/25/2005
Posts: 869
Vette(s): 1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
Thanks for the input, Rodney.  In my last post I forgot to also thank you for all the pics and the step-by-step -- they're very helpful.   I have the arms off, removed ball joints yesterday, and today I'm going to try to get those bushings out.  I'll let you know how it goes.  



 

1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.

Re: control arm bushing replacements

Posted: 9/11/11 3:07pm Message 19 of 20
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Vancouver, WA - USA
Joined: 8/25/2005
Posts: 869
Vette(s): 1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
Got 'em out!  Very pleased that's all done.  There's a small amount of damage to the lips on the upper arm, but not much and structurally it will be OK.  Just need to clean them up a bit with a file and emery paper.  Thanks again for the advice.  The driver's side took several hours multiple days before I got 'em out.  This way is much better.  



 

1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.

Re: control arm bushing replacements

Posted: 9/11/11 4:45pm Message 20 of 20
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Red Lion, PA - USA
Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182
Vette(s): 1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic
Dave, glad to hear this worked out for you. Its makes it much easier then trying to push them out with a hammer and chisel. Some press them out but I find this easier. Hope it all goes together well. Keep us updated on your progress.
Rodney




in Forum: C3 Handling Components


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