Trouble Replacing Lower Control Arm

[Jeremy]

I need to replace the front right lower control arm.

I have the bad control arm off the car and am having trouble getting the brackets off the arm. Is there some sort of trick to get them off? I was figuring they would just pull off....

[grif900]

you may need to devise a clever puller,but they will come off.

[ShadowWorks]

What part are you having a hard time with?

I took one off in 5 minutes with a head torch on, just kick it and wiggle it, it could just be the under seal thats making it stay in place, it will come away as long as you have remove the ball joint and the 3 main nuts that hold it to the chassis

[Matt88S]

I believe Jeremy already has the arm off the car, but is having trouble seperating the arm from the brackets.

I assume you bought a new arm, they usually do not come with new bushings, did you get replacement bushings? You aren't going to want to use the old ones.

No trick to get the old ones off, they are just hard to get off, but they will come. Soap, dish soap, works well as a lube. Oils, greases, etc should not be used as they will deteriorate rubbber, not that you care on the old ones but on the new ones you do. (and they can be as hard to get in as they are to get out, , some member rig up a little press with a bolt and washers and whatnot to squeeze them in)

A torche might be a quick but smelly fix. Try the soap bit, they will come off.

[Jeremy]

yep, the old arm is off the car, I have a new arm, bushings, and ball joint waiting to go in, just need to get the brackets off the old arm...

I’ll let them soak over night in some soapy water and see if I have any better luck in the morning.

Do you guys/gals think a gear puller like this would make the job easier?

[grif900]

that puller looks kind of light,but may just do it.

[Jeremy]

Ended up carefully drilling the ruber bushing to get the brackets off.

Originally Posted by grif900

that puller looks kind of light,but may just do it.

Indeed, bought it from the auto parts store down the road for $7, got the bushing halfway in and the nut on the top snapped off, had to wrap the puller in cloth (scared it would fly apart in peices) and dremeled one of the arms to get it off to return, not fun. I replaced it with a $27 puller and was able to pop both in with little problem.

Here's the contraption I built to get the bushings in:



coworker said I should invest in a press

[JimmyG]

i just stuck the aluminium mount into the vice and twisted the A arm until it moved freely. then just hit it out with a hammer. i stuck some oil spray in too.

you'd be aswell to replace the bushes while your at it. you need to get creative doing this if you dont want to buy a bushing press/puller. i used a socket/long bolt/nut/washers/soaked in silicon spray for a while

nice and simple

*****i should read all the posts first :P****

[Jeremy]

Originally Posted by JimmyG

i just stuck the aluminium mount into the vice and twisted the A arm until it moved freely. then just hit it out with a hammer. i stuck some oil spray in too.

you'd be aswell to replace the bushes while your at it. you need to get creative doing this if you dont want to buy a bushing press/puller. i used a socket/long bolt/nut/washers/soaked in silicon spray for a while

nice and simple

*****i should read all the posts first :P****

I actually thought about putting it in a big vice and twisting it... after I drilled them out. Would twisting the aluminum brackets in a vice put them at risk for bending/warping?

[JimmyG]

well, i suppose it depends how hard you twist! but mine are still true. there pretty sturdy things so i'd say they'd take the strain

[grif900]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

coworker said I should invest in a press

that puller makes a fine press,when you use it that way.