Installing Control Arm Bushings: Tips?

Do occasional searches on Craig's List for Austin, San Antonio and
Dallas/Ft. Worth. Steer clear of Houston as cars there sort of qualify
for "rust belt" status.

Of course, you can also check cities in south Arizona and most of
California. Even Washington and Oregon (near the coast) cars are
relatively rust free.

JT

 

JT, all of this is now copied and pasted to my notes.

I installed the re-bushinged dr side front control arm and
test drove my Civic a few hours ago. Drives well. I do think
I have less clunkiness going over dips etc.

Hopefully the passenger side front lower control arm bushing
installation will go better. Will try it in a week or so.

Interesting. My 91 Civic was driven for 12 years in the rust
belt. The last three have been out West. In the local
junkyard here, I never have problems freeing old control arm
bolts from their Hondas. Also, the old, bushing outer
sleeves of the second-hand, bent control arm I purchased for
practice were much easier to remove.

Thanks!

 

JT, all of this is now copied and pasted to my notes.

I installed the re-bushinged dr side front control arm and
test drove my Civic a few hours ago. Drives well. I do think
I have less clunkiness going over dips etc.

Hopefully the passenger side front lower control arm bushing
installation will go better. Will try it in a week or so.

Interesting. My 91 Civic was driven for 12 years in the rust
belt. The last three have been out West. In the local
junkyard here, I never have problems freeing old control arm
bolts from their Hondas. Also, the old, bushing outer
sleeves of the second-hand, bent control arm I purchased for
practice were much easier to remove.

Thanks!

 

I'm not being a jerk, but... OK, I am, but that's not why I'm writing this.

Guys, 2 threads above this we have someone saying 'break fluid'. No.
It's brake fluid, because what stops the car is brakes. What breaks
your heart, on the other hand, is 'breaking' news.

I just couldn't stand it anymore.

RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen

 

I'm not being a jerk, but... OK, I am, but that's not why I'm writing this.

Guys, 2 threads above this we have someone saying 'break fluid'. No.
It's brake fluid, because what stops the car is brakes. What breaks
your heart, on the other hand, is 'breaking' news.

I just couldn't stand it anymore.

RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen

 

Maybe you can buy a cheap arbor press from Harbor Freight.
preferably a local store so you don't have to pay shipping on such a heavy
item.

Cut/drill some plywood for press fixtures.Maybe use dowels to keep the bolt
holes undistorted.

 

Maybe you can buy a cheap arbor press from Harbor Freight.
preferably a local store so you don't have to pay shipping on such a heavy
item.

Cut/drill some plywood for press fixtures.Maybe use dowels to keep the bolt
holes undistorted.

 

LOL! I used a stainless steel mixing bowl for cleaning parts and learned the
meaning of "ritually unclean." No matter what it goes through it will never
be usable for food... says the boss.

Mike

 

LOL! I used a stainless steel mixing bowl for cleaning parts and learned the
meaning of "ritually unclean." No matter what it goes through it will never
be usable for food... says the boss.

Mike

 

Include central Florida,but avoid coastal cars;the salt air is equal to a
winter's driving up in NY.

 

Include central Florida,but avoid coastal cars;the salt air is equal to a
winter's driving up in NY.

 

I agree a cheap one might do the trick for pressing the
bushings in place.

I was indeed using some scraps of wood with my
bolt-socket-etc. clamping device at various points this
morning. Good idea to take this a bit further. Especially if
I go after the rear control arm bushings within a year or
so.

 

I agree a cheap one might do the trick for pressing the
bushings in place.

I was indeed using some scraps of wood with my
bolt-socket-etc. clamping device at various points this
morning. Good idea to take this a bit further. Especially if
I go after the rear control arm bushings within a year or
so.

 

But, but, but... In this thread, it would be "braking news."

<groan>

JT

 

But, but, but... In this thread, it would be "braking news."

<groan>

JT

 

The rear is usually a lot worse than the fron as it gets all the kicked
up salt etc. A cutting torch would be the ticket for that job but watch
out for the gas tank... Oh, should mention that generally, the
passenger/curb side is worse 'cause that's whar' the puddles hang out!

JT

 

The rear is usually a lot worse than the fron as it gets all the kicked
up salt etc. A cutting torch would be the ticket for that job but watch
out for the gas tank... Oh, should mention that generally, the
passenger/curb side is worse 'cause that's whar' the puddles hang out!

JT

 

Update on King:
Without my asking, and to its credit, King did not charge me
a re-stocking fee but rather immediately refunded to me the
full cost of the bushings. So I am only out shipping and
handling.

 

Update on King:
Without my asking, and to its credit, King did not charge me
a re-stocking fee but rather immediately refunded to me the
full cost of the bushings. So I am only out shipping and
handling.