Another Front LCA Bushing Question

[86GTdriver]

I didn't want to hijack the previous OPs thread about Front LCAs so I thought I'd start a new one. I have these Cobra/Mach front LCAs I was wanting to use and I need to remove one shell from each, and one still has a bushing left in it. I understand I need to get a hold of a propane torch and heat the shell with the bushing left in it and I guess use a hammer to get the smoking bushing out of the sleeve. I intend on using new LCA bolts when I install these LCAs, new Moog SN95 balljoints are already pressed in and I also am using Energy Suspension Polys as replacement bushings. When the LCA w/o the bushing was pushed out, it was a hydro-bushing so I am sure the other with be the same.

How do I get the old sleeves out though???

I also want to make sure these don't squeek. I heard drilling and installing a zerk helps, but I have no clue if that's a really good idea and don't know exactly how to go about that, but the instructions do say to be liberal with the grease. Despite all that, I've had trouble getting the sleeves to press into the bushings, as one can see in the first picture upper left.

Here's illustrations as to what I'm talking about:











Date Stamp I guess.

Part of the P/N I guess.

[Travis T]

Last time I did it, I very carefully cut the shells with a hacksaw running from one end of the bushing to the other, along the length of it. When I was close to through, but before I hit the control arm itself, I used a hammer and collapsed it in on itself by hitting along the outside of the cut if that makes any sense. You really need a press to install them, it's a real pain.

[wman24]

Take a hacksaw apart and reassemble it with the blade in the shell. Saw it till about to break thru the shell, it is easier then it sounds. Take the saw back apart and collapse the shell in with a punch or chisel, it will fall out. Pressing the new in is a little harder, I use a piece of 5/8 nc all thread some nuts, washers and old bearing races too pull them in. You also need some shorter nut and bolt for spacer so the open ends of the arms don't collapse.


Treed me^^^

[Travis T]

That must be the preferred driveway method after all! As big of a pain as it was when I replaced the stock bushings in my LSC, I just left the shells in my 84 and used poly inserts.

[86GTdriver]

I do have access to a 2 ton shop press and all kinds of sizes of those round things, whatever they are called, to press in bushings at the Auto Hobby Shop here on base, but have no real experience on how to use such. The hacksaw idea sounds good. I can get that done easy!

As far as pressing in the new sleeves, what wman24 was saying seems above my head and I don't understand in it's entirety what the information he was trying to disseminate.

[Travis T]

One thing you will have to do is put something between the two flanges on the arm that the shell fits between, otherwise you will just bend the arm when you press in the bushing.

[wman24]

As far as pressing in the new sleeves, what wman24 was saying seems above my head and I don't understand in it's entirety what the information he was trying to disseminate.[/QUOTE]


A press is the most logical choice, a lot less effort on you're part. I only have access to a small press so I came up with the all thread method. As mentioned above the spacers are probably the most important part, the open end of the control arm will want to bend before the shell goes in.

[mustangxtreme]

Post 29 is where I did my poly bushings.

http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...-L-build/page2

[wman24]

Doesn't look like much but it works good.

[86GTdriver]

Doesn't look like much but it works good.

What is that?

[wman24]

That is my bushing tool. The black parts are borrowed from a Harbor Freight ball joint press. Only thing not in the pic is that a put the closed end of a combination wrench on the nut toward the middle of the control arm, c clamp the hole thing to my work bench and put a 1/2" breaker bar with a ratchet attachment and a deep socket on the outboard side.

[82GTforME]

I did very similar myself. Check out post 8 and 9: http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...=1#post1572519

[86GTdriver]

I did very similar myself. Check out post 8 and 9: http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...=1#post1572519

That's a really good method you used to get those shells in. Did you install the sleeves into the bushings before or after you installed the bushings into the shells? How large was that threaded rod and where did you get the metal, square plates? What did you use to shave the bushings with once you were ready to install the LCAs onto the car with?

[82GTforME]

That's a really good method you used to get those shells in. Did you install the sleeves into the bushings before or after you installed the bushings into the shells? How large was that threaded rod and where did you get the metal, square plates? What did you use to shave the bushings with once you were ready to install the LCAs onto the car with?

Shells first, then greased the poly bushings and pressed them in (not a lot of effort required for this) and then put in the sleeves after.

The rod I used was 1/2" UNC grade 8 and the square plates were 3/8" x 2-1/2" flat bar cut at 2-1/2" (big enough to cover the entire shell) with a 9/16" hole in it.

I just used an OLFA knife to cut slivers off the end of the bushing to get it to slide in easier.