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Chris Papas
Tinkerer
NSW
V8

Posts: 92
Reg: 11-2006

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Saturday, December 13, 2008 - 02:55 pm, by:  Chris Papas (Papasc) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'm interested in trying to replace my bushes in the front control arms.

I've read you need a press to get new bushes in.

What about removing the whole control arm? How difficult is it ?

Any tutorials on this ?
Daniel Clarke
Goo Roo
NSW
TT 2.5L 6 cylinder

Posts: 4327
Reg: 03-2006

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Saturday, December 13, 2008 - 03:05 pm, by:  Daniel Clarke (Dieseltrain) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Removing the whole control arm is quite simple. It is only 5 bolts from memory. However, you DO need to get the new bushes pressed into the arms. Once you fit them to the car, you have to get a wheel alignment done as the control arm bolts are used as adjustments.

If you dont live too far from a suspension place, go and grab a quote with them removing and fitting and yourself.. See if/how much you will save and if its really worth it?
Chris Papas
Tinkerer
NSW
V8

Posts: 94
Reg: 11-2006

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Saturday, December 13, 2008 - 09:30 pm, by:  Chris Papas (Papasc) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks. I will check, although I'm not near a city and I haven't found anybody yet who I feel comfortable with. They never seem to know the car at all, especially when they go to jack the car up and don't listen to the warning re the air struts.

Never leaves me with much confidence they really know much about the car.

Will get a quote though.
Matt Newman
Tinkerer
QLD
soarer tt

Posts: 59
Reg: 11-2007

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Saturday, December 13, 2008 - 10:45 pm, by:  Matt Newman (Soarersrock) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

hey mate get hold of some supperpro bushes then u wont need a press to fit them just a soft hammer as i just replaced mine with supperpro and just had to tap in the metal center.
good luck matt
Chris Papas
Tinkerer
NSW
V8

Posts: 97
Reg: 11-2006

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Monday, December 15, 2008 - 06:35 pm, by:  Chris Papas (Papasc) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Does anyone have a pic of the upper control arm bushes.

It seems my lower have all been replaced some 7 years ago. It's only traveled 50K since then, so I might just get the upper front done. Was quoted 3 hrs labor for upper or lower. Seems very reasonable, I'm not sure they have done a soarer before with air suspension.
Dave Cazes
TryHard
sa
tt

Posts: 275
Reg: 08-2007

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Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 01:31 pm, by:  Dave Cazes (Cazman) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Er, matt, youll need a big press to get the old ones out though :S
Phil Gibson
Goo Roo
WA
'91 UZZ31 track bunky, '94 blk/blk UZZ31

Posts: 1330
Reg: 07-2005

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Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 02:56 pm, by:  Phil Gibson (Sciflyer) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You can get them out without a press but it can be a prick of a job

i did the whole front end without one, mind you that was using urethane bushes (Superpro) not OEM types
Matt Newman
Tinkerer
QLD
soarer tt

Posts: 60
Reg: 11-2007

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Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 09:51 pm, by:  Matt Newman (Soarersrock) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

well getting the old ones out was fun ended up drilling through the rubber and then pushing out the sleeve with a cold chisel and hammer. but as for the new bushes i took them to work to use the press and found out i didn't need it lol
Kim Hunt
TryHard
nsw
Supercharged SC400\Soarer GT-L UZZ31

Posts: 115
Reg: 08-2007

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Tuesday, December 23, 2008 - 10:42 pm, by:  Kim Hunt (Lxtasi) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

i found a link somewhere on this site or planet soarer. plus using my mechanical experience i just went upon doing it myself with the items i had at home.

remember this is what i had at home

-first mark the position of the camber settings which are on the lower control arms.just so you get it all roughly back to the right setting
-then take out the Lower control arm
-get your self a out door stove or a butane torch. i just used the outdoor stove ($16) to burn the bushes out of their metal outer sleeves.
-once all bushes have been burned out get the arm, its time to put i in a vice
-get your self some cold chisels and a hammer or if you can just use an air chisel(much easier)
-you have to chisel out the bush's old outer metal sleeves out of the arms.(easier to do with a air chisel)
-once you have managed to get them out you are on the home stretch.
-then clean up the inside of the arm where the bushes will go with sand paper etc..
-get your bushes (i used super pro but you can use nolex (i think that's the name)if you want but super pro are great)
-also make sure you have the right bush in the right place eg. front and rear
-make sure you use all the lube spreading it all over the bushes (inside and out)Also in the arms
-insert the bushes along with the metal inner sleeve (thingy)
-if your all good and happy, its time to replace the arms making sure that you put the camber settings back to where you marked them.

well i hope that helped you's out a little bit}}
Kim Hunt
TryHard
nsw
Supercharged SC400\Soarer GT-L UZZ31

Posts: 116
Reg: 08-2007

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Tuesday, December 23, 2008 - 10:59 pm, by:  Kim Hunt (Lxtasi) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

upper control arms would be the same procedure.

you wont need to worry about the camber settings

look at either ben's or phil's track car for some replacement pic
Chris Papas
TryHard
NSW
V8

Posts: 102
Reg: 11-2006

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Sunday, May 10, 2009 - 02:44 pm, by:  Chris Papas (Papasc) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sunday arvo fun. I'm in the process of removing the front left upper control arm. Do I need a special tool to remove the ball joint, I've managed to remove the nut but it wont budge.
Matchy Loi
TryHard
VIC
GTT

Posts: 266
Reg: 06-2006

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Sunday, May 10, 2009 - 03:12 pm, by:  Matchy Loi (Ftk148) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

yeah you need a ball joint splitter/seperator, there's a few types. I think i got mine for around 20 bucks.
Matthew Werner
TryHard
Qld
jzz30 TT

Posts: 216
Reg: 12-2006

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 05:38 pm, by:  Matthew Werner (Matto_888) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

or... get a knockometer (big hammer).. knock the outside of where the bolt goes through the stub axel doovy... take the nut off the ball joint and go to town on the outside of the metal it goes through.. (don't bash the thread.. an don't bash the control arm down...) this practise is an easy way to loosen ball joints without damaging thread or the ball joint itself.. as they cant be replaced (new control arm in other words)

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