[adam83]

This will be my first control arm job. The bushing in the rear side of the passenger upper control arm has been destroyed. The rod still looks good, but I wont know until I take the arm off. I'm taking off both upper control arms and I am assuming that I will at least be needing ball joints along with the bushings, and I might have to get new control arm shafts. I wont know about the shafts until the arms are off. I was thinking if I need both, I might get the MOOG kit, which also comes with all the hardware too. I was also looking at polyurethane bushings, but I am on a very limited budget (I spent everything on the engine...).

My question is, and it is very green, but do I need to put a jack stand under the lower control arm when I start removing the upper? I just have the basic tools, such as socket sets pry bars, allens, torx, hammers, punchs, etc etc but I dont have anything like air tools or a spring compressor. The only thing that worries me is will I be able to get the arm back when the new bushings are installed, with out a spring compressor or special tool?

[1ownerT]

I would put the jack stand under the frame, right behind the tire. Use a floor jack under the lower control arm to support it, no need to remove the spring and as long as the shock is still in place the spring can not go anywhere. The shock will limit the downward travel of the control arm and it (the shock) is inside of the spring.

[adam83]

cool, that takes away a lot of worry for me.

[eldercaddy]

Originally Posted by adam83

This will be my first control arm job. The bushing in the rear side of the passenger upper control arm has been destroyed. The rod still looks good, but I wont know until I take the arm off. I'm taking off both upper control arms and I am assuming that I will at least be needing ball joints along with the bushings, and I might have to get new control arm shafts. I wont know about the shafts until the arms are off. I was thinking if I need both, I might get the MOOG kit, which also comes with all the hardware too. I was also looking at polyurethane bushings, but I am on a very limited budget (I spent everything on the engine...).

My question is, and it is very green, but do I need to put a jack stand under the lower control arm when I start removing the upper? I just have the basic tools, such as socket sets pry bars, allens, torx, hammers, punchs, etc etc but I dont have anything like air tools or a spring compressor. The only thing that worries me is will I be able to get the arm back when the new bushings are installed, with out a spring compressor or special tool?

I think you need some special tool to be able to get the arm back when the new bushings have installed. PM me if you need some assistance.

[joe_padavano]

Leave the shocks in place, so there is no way for the spring to come out. Once you get the arms off, you need to either press the bushings out or burn the rubber and compress the shells to get them out of the arms. Be sure the shaft is in place inside the control arm BEFORE you start pressing the new bushings in place. Do not torque the nuts (or in some cases bolts) on the ends of the shaft until the arm is in place and the weight of the car is on the suspension.

[adam83]

I think it's cool that this advice has come when I needed it. I've been painting the inside of the house for a month and have had no time for the car, but I will soon. Now, when you say leave the shaft in place before putting on the new bushings... do you mean secured to the car? Because I thought the control arm and the control arm shaft needed to be off the car to get the new bushings on.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by adam83

I think it's cool that this advice has come when I needed it. I've been painting the inside of the house for a month and have had no time for the car, but I will soon. Now, when you say leave the shaft in place before putting on the new bushings... do you mean secured to the car? Because I thought the control arm and the control arm shaft needed to be off the car to get the new bushings on.

No, what I meant is be sure the shaft is slid into the holes in the control arm before you press in even the first bushing. I've has some upper arms where the shaft needed to be inserted from the middle of the control arm - in other words, insert one end into the arm, slide it until the wide part for the mounting bolt hits the inside of the arm, then insert the other end and center. If the wide parts of the shaft won't pass all the way through the holes in the arm, you can't insert the shaft with the first bushing in place.