OK...here is a candid little story about the bushing install.

First off, My car has 238,000 miles on it and needless to say, it wanders and doesn't feel too stable in the front end. SO, my first task is to replace the big bushing (castor arm) and see how well that works. I'm pretty excited to think that this will get rid of the shimmy that drives me insane. Mind you it is around 105 degrees and plenty of humidity out here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Just think PGA championship and you know how HOT it is here!!!

6:00 PM Back car into the garage and get out jack, jackstands and tools.

6:05 PM Sweat is already dripping into my eyes and off of my arms.

6:15 PM Car is on jackstands, wheels are pulled off. Hmm, big *** nut
holding bushing on looks ominous. Lower brace is pulled off.

6:20 PM Mosquitoes discover me....buffet time!!!

6:30 PM Houston, we have a problem. Big *** nut on castor bushing came
loose in about 5 seconds, no sweat. BUT, two bolts on lower
control arm are another issue!!! Hmm I found the 19mm and 3/4
socket I used for my spring install, not very useable since they both
cracked due to umm excessive force?

6:40 PM After brainstorming a few minutes, I came up with a 12" long 3/4
combo wrench to loosen the tough bolts. Well guess what, still not
budging. So after twisting and turning my legs and arms to
push/pull/kick to no avail, I decide to use the BFH (Big F**ING
hammer) I give it a few whacks and then use another wrench to
extend it and give me some more leverage WOOHOO mission
accomplished!!! I remove the driver side castor arm.

6: 50 PM Progress on passenger side is going good. Now my plan is to take
arms to work in the morning and use the hydraulic press to install
bushings. Since my car isn't driveable, I'm going to borrow my
fiance's to go to work in the am. She gets home right when I go to
work, so my plan is fool proof.

7:01 PM I'm five minutes from having control arm off of vehicle. Fiance sends
me a text telling me she has a meeting in morning. DOH!!! Now i
have to drive my car to work in the morning!!! ARRGH!!! ah the
frustration!!!

7:25 PM Houston, we have ANOTHER problem. As some of you know, taking
the arms off is easier than putting them back in. NOTHING LINES
UP!!!! TAP TAP TAP....(brain starts to smoke due to heat and
thinking) Once again I turn into a human pretzel to try and install
those two bolts without stripping the threads. Push/Pull/twist the
control arm and I'm getting nowhere.

7:40 PM By now its getting very frustrating. DING DING!!! I have a bright
idea!!! I take the hydraulic jack and lift the hub up to get the holes
to line up as best I can. TADA it works!!! It still takes a little
finesse to get them in but its done!!!

8:00 PM All finished getting car back together. Well I guess I wont be
getting them in soon, at least all my bolts are loosened up and I
really didn't spend that much time on it. Especially considering I
was using all hand tools. No impacts or other power tools.

Stay tuned for part 2. LOL

 

LMAO...Man, all you did was have a nice summer work out. Good luck on your second attempt. I'll be standing by for more laughs.

 

Jo-Jo,

Come pick up the impact wrench next time

Jonny

 

interesting stories, can you post some pics up ,

 

LOL, yeah...well the impact doesn't always get the nuts loose....you should know that. Pics will come on the next attempt, trust me, it will help anyone else wanting to attempt this DIY.

 

hey, here's an idea.. do a write up on how this is done nextime with pictures. im sure everyone will appreciate your hard work.

 

Man, if I had known that people would be interested in a writeup, I would've taken some pictures. I just got done replacing all of my Daizen Lower control arm bushings yesterday and a pain in the butt it is. Make sure that when you press out the bushings, you have the exact adapter to press out the metal linner sleeves. Oh, the upper A-arm will give you some work...