Removing upper control arm bushings

[farmboy70]

The service manual lists the sleeve on 10 inch brakes, rear bushing only.
Dave

[farmboy70]

Ok, that makes sense then...looks like I got the ONE that didnt need the collar.

So how do you know if the fit is "tight enough" when you press in the new bushing on the holes without the collar?  I cant figure out how a collar in that location would affect the tightness???

They will press in tightly ,if not the hole is bent or the arm is rusted enough that it is weak.
Dave

[shadango]

Picture 2 shows the collar that needs to be removed before tackling the bushing itself.
 The round collar in my last picture is the  collar removed.
Dave

Did you cut the collar off or something?  Doesnt seem like the collar could come off , whole, with the sleev in place?

[farmboy70]

Look closely at the picture of the collar and you will see a heat mark, I heated the collar only and used a chisel bit on my air hammer to slid it off.
Sand blasting the area around the bushing go's a long way in helping remove it.
You can cut it to remove and buy new sleeves to replace also.
Dave

[shadango]

The collar you are describing is on the INNER side of the arm versus the outer side, right?

If so, mine is waaaaaaay bigger than yours......

So what I am seeing is the sleeve, making the outer "fatter" part on pic #2 look smaller relative to the others I guess....?

Ok, if thats the case I should be able to heat the sleeve and maybe even cut it.....gotcha.

...took me a while (assuming this is correct)....LOL

[Kapteenikosmos]

yes it's on the inner side. It is designed so that if the bushing is too loose fit into the arm, the sleeve is then pressed tightly over the bushing which prevents it from moving out from the control arm.

It could be that it is supposed to be on the other bushing in all arms as farmboy stated. 

Mine didn't have one (-73 challenger) and as far as I can tell, the bushings were originals when I removed them.

What comes to the right tightness, I think that most of the bushings should go tight enough into the arm and you will probably notice if one or two goes way too easily into the arm. I pressed mine in with a vice and some banging with a hammer and they all went in with about the same amount of force.

[farmboy70]

Here is a picture of a complete original set-up.
One on each arm to the rear of the car.
Dave

[farmboy70]

The collar you are describing is on the INNER side of the arm versus the outer side, right?

If so, mine is waaaaaaay bigger than yours......

So what I am seeing is the sleeve, making the outer "fatter" part on pic #2 look smaller relative to the others I guess....?

Ok, if thats the case I should be able to heat the sleeve and maybe even cut it.....gotcha.

...took me a while (assuming this is correct)....LOL

That will do it. The fatter area is the round sleeve in my picture removed. It needs to come off first.
Dave

[farmboy70]

Do you have your replacement parts? It will be a lot clearer if you have them to compare.
Dave

[shadango]

Not yet....but I will be using the moogs (problem solvers) in the UCA.....have seen the pics of them....

The collar just threw me for the loop.  LOL

Looks like I have just ONE collar to remove......the other three have none.

So, its best to NOT heat the arm to remove the sleeves, then?

When I removed the LCA sleeve I had to heat the arm some and that helped the sleeve press out using the 'weld on 1/2" washers" method.....

I have sprayed PB Blaster on the sleeves of my UCAs...hopefully that soaking will help.

[farmboy70]

Not yet....but I will be using the moogs (problem solvers) in the UCA.....have seen the pics of them....

The collar just threw me for the loop.  LOL

Looks like I have just ONE collar to remove......the other three have none.

So, its best to NOT heat the arm to remove the sleeves, then?

When I removed the LCA sleeve I had to heat the arm some and that helped the sleeve press out using the 'weld on 1/2" washers" method.....

I have sprayed PB Blaster on the sleeves of my UCAs...hopefully that soaking will help.

You should be OK with the heating it's I don't like to do it because it may soften the arm and give problems later.
Dave

[shadango]

I am just sitting here thinking about what combination of sockets/pipe/etc I have that will work with my press....My sockets are either too large, too small or the walls are too thick to fit around the top of the bushings (outer /flange side)

I bought the press figuring it was cheaper than buying the special tools I would use ONCE.

Well, at least its a learning experience...LOL

[shadango]

Well, I figured out a combination.



Worked great once I figured it out. 

Got the first three out in a few minutes....easy as pie........then came the one with the collar.  I notched the collar in a couple spots and got it to spin off.

GREAT!!!

.......not so fast.   

Went to the press to press out the final inner sleeve....figured it would be a few minutes and then i am done.

<sigh>   

The sleeve went about half way and then wouldnt budge....welll, during one of the tries tries to budge it I tweaked the arm a bit......

Not a ton, but eneough to make me wonder if it will be an issue.....

Here is the tweaked one....I think its a combination of the raised collar on the arm being slightly depresed on one side and the edge of the arm itself being tweaked a little..combined it looks more out than it is I think.



and here is the other side, not tweaked, for comparison.



I am sure I am not the first to have this happen.....looking at how it mounts on the car I am thinking maybe it wont be a big deal....I was also already planning on getting the Mopog "problem solver" upper bushings.....

SO, the big question here is...did I just commit to buying a replacement upper control arm?  or should I be ok?           

[farmboy70]

 Glad to see you got them out. :2thumbs:If the bushing is tight and you can put a straight rod thru both holes in the bushing it will be fine.
Dave

[shadango]

Do you think the bushings will pop back out in the event that I have an issue there? Or is it a deal where once they ar ein they are gonna be stuck?