Control arm bushings

[Dominic]

All my bushings are shot, I ordered 8 big clevite bushings from clayton off road for my lift kit and I am debating what to do. I am hoping someone who has been through this job has some advice. Here are my options,

A: Put the Jeep on Jack stands and remove the arms and have a shop press out the old bushings and press in the new bushings then reinstall the arms then take it back to the shop for alignment.

B: Buy a press from Harbor freight and do it all myself. Then have alignment done.

C: Remove arms and try to do the job with a ball joint press.

I have roughly 2 weeks to do this and my funds are some what limited. Any pointers or warnings?

Thank you
Dom

 

[I Lean]

You shouldn't need an alignment when it's done, since you're just replacing bushings with the same bushings. (right?)

Minus the alignment, A will be the easiest for you, but will cost anything.

Getting the old bushings out is the hardest part.

 

[Herzog]

The best way I have found to remove the old clevit bushings is to press the rubber section out (comes out really fast with WD or any lube while pressing) Then hammer the backside of the bushing casing (thin side) and make it crimp in a couple spots, then chuck it back into the press and out the sleeve comes.

Much quicker than trying to cut them out as some people have told me in the past. I'd pick up a HF press and do it yourself because then at least you come out on top with a press. If I had my tools & press up here in SLC I'd do it for you.

 

[I Lean]

The best way I have found to remove the old clevit bushings is to press the rubber section out (comes out really fast with WD or any lube while pressing) Then hammer the backside of the bushing casing (thin side) and make it crimp in a couple spots, then chuck it back into the press and out the sleeve comes.

Much quicker than trying to cut them out as some people have told me in the past. I'd pick up a HF press and do it yourself because then at least you come out on top with a press. If I had my tools & press up here in SLC I'd do it for you.

You can actually do that same thing without pressing the rubber out first. Use a hammer/chisel or preferably an air hammer to bend a couple spots of the outer sleeve in, just deforming the rubber part--then press the whole thing out. You might need to trim a little bit of the bent flange on the one side to support the eyelet, so the additional time for that might make it a wash compared to pressing the rubber out first, I dunno.

 

[Dominic]

Well i bought a press tonight on the way home from school. Got it set up, got the front arms off the Jeep and blown out is an understatement. These bushings are in bad shape. Air chisel may be the next move. They are a little tough to bend.

 

[Herzog]

You can actually do that same thing without pressing the rubber out first. Use a hammer/chisel or preferably an air hammer to bend a couple spots of the outer sleeve in, just deforming the rubber part--then press the whole thing out. You might need to trim a little bit of the bent flange on the one side to support the eyelet, so the additional time for that might make it a wash compared to pressing the rubber out first, I dunno.

I agree, you can... but it just seemed easier to do the 2 steps for me, for some reason. Just pressed out a lot faster and was easier to bend in the thinner pieces for the final press.

 

[Herzog]

Well i bought a press tonight on the way home from school. Got it set up, got the front arms off the Jeep and blown out is an understatement. These bushings are in bad shape. Air chisel may be the next move. They are a little tough to bend.

Bend the lips inward so the press will catch them and press it out.

 

[Dominic]

Done and done. Thanks for the tips guys. The bending a few sections then pressing it out worked like a charm. For anyone who may be searching on tips in the future here are mine.
1. Cold chisel set for sheering metal from Lowes 3pk ($10)
2. Steel pipe union from the plumping section for pressing old bushings out ($8)
3. Bend the large outer metal section in as discussed above in a few spots then insert in the press that side down.

The job was not bad at all once I got the system down. Thanks again guys.

 

[I Lean]

 

[Cody]

Now come do mine.

 

[Brett]

I think my lower left needs a bushing, I'll be dropping it off for you after you're done with Cody's. Thanks!

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Well i bought a press tonight on the way home from school. Got it set up, got the front arms off the Jeep and blown out is an understatement. These bushings are in bad shape. Air chisel may be the next move. They are a little tough to bend.

Looks like it's time for some jointed ends so you can get some flex and not stress the bushings. And judging by how bad they were I would get the alignment checked, or you can check it yourself with a tape measure since you didn't adjust the length of the arms. Here is a basic write-up http://www.4x4xplor.com/alignment.html