I am rebuilding the front end of my car and installing all new ball joints and bushings. My front end has never been apart and it is a challenge to just get the A-arms off.

A friend of mine has a press and is going to install my lower ball joints.

My question is how do I get the bushings out to get the cross shaft off the A-arm?

Last question is how do I get the A-arm bushings out of the lower A-arm?

I tried to get them out but did not want to go too far without checking.

If you have an air hammer, try using that. If not, this is what worked for me:

Lowers-remove rubber by drilling or burning out. Once rubber is removed, collapse the shell upon itself to remove it.

Uppers-Clamp arm into bench vise. Use pipe wrench on bushing to break loose and twist out.

To install new:
Lowers-cut a piece of angle iron to fit snugly between the "ears" of the arms to prevent collapsing the arm when pressing. You can then use your bench vise again to press in, or rent the baljoint press from Auto Zone and use that.

Uppers-install both bushings into arm and onto cross shaft. With hammer and large socket, drive them in. I ended up not beig able to get the bushings in the last 1/4" or so and had to take them to a shop that had a press.

Thanks. I was also able to find a few posts on this. I could have never done this without all of the air tools that I have.

Does the upper A-arm "ear" have a sleeve that sticks out of the A-arm?

I don’t want to air hammer the wrong area. I can tell that the inner portion of the bushing has a metal sleeve on the outside but the outer portion looks to be a larger diameter and may be apart of the A-arm.

After 36 years of grime I just can’t tell what is the A-arm and what is the bushing.

A picture of the upper A-arm with the bushings out would be even better. I will also try the pipe wrench.

I did a quick google search, and came up with this. Look at the bushing hole on the unblasted arm. These are second gen but similar to 1st gen. The control arms have a lip. The bushing shells also have a lip that should press up against the edge of the control arm lip. Hope this helps!


http://www.74-77camaro.com/misc-projects/images/DCP_0354.JPG

Thanks for the search and the image. It does help.

I will let you guys know how is goes.

Harbor Freight Tool sell's an air chisel kit for like $10 every so often!

Cheap enough you can use it AND throw it away!

I think I have two??

pdq67

Thanks all for the responses. My air chisel and some PB penetrating oil knocked them out in short order.

I started out with the pipe wrench but the bushings would not move. Lets here it for quality air power.

I used a wire brush attachment on my angle grinder and the A-arms and cross shafts are now clean metal ready for paint. There is some pitting but that is to be expected. I am hoping the POR-15 and Chasse Black paint will smother out the surface somewhat.