DIY Lower Control Arm Bush Replacement

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Originally Posted by garrycol

I have to do mine soon and I have bookmarked Tombie's thread on this topic under my RRS section for referrral when I buy my arms complete with bushes and put the arms in - but really I should be able to buy bushes and put them in myself rather than buying the lot.

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Garry, not sure what you’re meaning .... this thread of Tombie’s is for bush replacement with arms remaining on vehicle, not complete arm replacement? So is the thread I linked that Dan created, just a different tool to replace bushes with arms insitu.

Scott

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Originally Posted by garrycol

I have to do mine soon and I have bookmarked Tombie's thread on this topic under my RRS section for referrral when I buy my arms complete with bushes and put the arms in - but really I should be able to buy bushes and put them in myself rather than buying the lot.

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You can just replace the bushes if you so choose, its not as if they are not available to purchase on their own. As far as I can see theres nothing special about how to replace them in the arms, they can still be pressed out and in again same as any other vehicle on the market.
Yes the design of the bushes as far as service life is concerned is less than ideal

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Originally Posted by LRD414

Garry, not sure what you’re meaning .... this thread of Tombie’s is for bush replacement with arms remaining on vehicle, not complete arm replacement? So is the thread I linked that Dan created, just a different tool to replace bushes with arms insitu.

Scott

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Yes exactly.

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Originally Posted by shanegtr

You can just replace the bushes if you so choose, its not as if they are not available to purchase on their own. As far as I can see theres nothing special about how to replace them in the arms, they can still be pressed out and in again same as any other vehicle on the market.
Yes the design of the bushes as far as service life is concerned is less than ideal

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Well I may have misunderstood other threads but I thought that you had to have this very expensive tool to remove and insert the new bushes and that is why everyone is buying complete arms rather than just buying the bushes and changing them over. If I am wrong and they can be replaced using a normal garage press at home then great - I am glad to be proven wrong.

Garry

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Originally Posted by garrycol

Well I may have misunderstood other threads but I thought that you had to have this very expensive tool to remove and insert the new bushes and that is why everyone is buying complete arms rather than just buying the bushes and changing them over. If I am wrong and they can be replaced using a normal garage press at home then great - I am glad to be proven wrong.

Garry

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That seems to me by take on it given nearly £300 for the laser tool which is not as broadly applicable as Tombie’s. That said, there’s nothing special about the tool other than it’s designed for the diameter of the LR bush. Any puller would work that came with the applicable diameter mandrel.
Personally I’ll get some advanced factor arms next time. I might then use some WA peeps tools (please) to replace the bushes on the current arms for next time at mine and their convenience. Rinse repeat. A carton of beer towards the tool cost might be considered a fair exchange?
Anyhow, shocks are my next major “investment” before bushes.

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Originally Posted by garrycol

Yes exactly.



Well I may have misunderstood other threads but I thought that you had to have this very expensive tool to remove and insert the new bushes and that is why everyone is buying complete arms rather than just buying the bushes and changing them over. If I am wrong and they can be replaced using a normal garage press at home then great - I am glad to be proven wrong.

Garry

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You can use any press, just means you have to take the lower arms off the vehicle. This includes undoing the ball joint which may involve removal of the half shaft from the hub.

You also need special cupped tools to press the new bush in without damaging it, due to the bush design. You can use other bushes (such as the superpro) which only require a rubber mallet to hammer in, but most people seem to dislike the firmer ride they give.

Hope that helps.

Dan

Ok thanks for that information seems to clear things up for me. So when I buy new bushes I will book in in advance and get the local suspension shop to press them in for me.

Cheers

Garry

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Originally Posted by garrycol

Ok thanks for that information seems to clear things up for me. So when I buy new bushes I will book in in advance and get the local suspension shop to press them in for me.

Cheers

Garry

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And they,ll end up costing you more than if you were to change the complete arms

Why?

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Originally Posted by garrycol

Why?

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I believe the consensus is that by the time you pay for new bushes and then labour to press out a install them into the old arms, it is cheaper to just install new arms.

At least in Australia the bolts release. Most in the UK and USA need to be cut out with an angle grinder.

As said previously the leading Indy in WA will only replace the full arm. Told me the bushes don’t last when pressed in. Don’t know why.