[454me]

I finally broke down and replaced the bushings in the rear control arms. I will have to admit that of all the things I have ever done to a car this is the hardest job ever. I made pullers and presses to remove and install them. I also boxed in the lower arms while I was at it. I repainted the lower arms but the upper arms were body color so I left them alone. The last one I pressed in was on the rear end. I just couldnt get it started straight. It kept wanting to cant to the side and stick. I got my micrometer and measured the hole into the rear end and the bushing. I found the hole was .040 smaller than the bushing. Since only the second half of the bushing is in the ear once fully seated I sanded the first part of the bushing down so it was only .020 bigger than the hole. Then it went in straight and fully seated. I think in all I have about 20 hours in the job. The car is way tighter on the rear end now but I didnt nail it to see if the wheel hop was gone. I did take pictures of the ongoing job but havent taken them out of the camera yet. I used Energy Suspension bushing from Summit. I was pleased how well everything was an exact replacement. All this on a 34 year old car.

[1ownerT]

The can be kind of a pain some times.
When you feel like having some more fun, put in the fronts to match. They are a great improvement. If you haven't done the fronts and decide to do them, you have to reuse the sleeves. The first time I did them I fought like crazy to get the new bushings into the old sleeves. What really helped, I picked up some dry ice and put the bushing on ice for ten to fifteen minutes then they slid right in.

[Ratchet]

I just did the rear bushings on my camaro and they are almost identical to the 70 to 72 chevelle ones. I fought the first one and then I figured out that your supposed to remove the rubber from the shell before trying to push them in. What a difference.!!!!!!!!! If you get into that again try installing the shells by themselves and then push the rubber bushings in afterward. A little greas on the rubber bushings makes it fairly easy.

[454me]

I couldnt get the rubber bushings out of the new sleaves. I didnt want to tear them up so I left them in. They all went in ok except for the ones in the rear end ears.

[454me]

I see the link didnt work. If you want to see the pictures you can go to my home page and click on the album for the rear control arm bushings.