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too access the bushings
Front Control arm bushings install (Pictures/Instructions)
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Actually, you don't need to take the wheels off. I was able to get at the bushings without removing the wheels. I had the car jacked up high enough so that I could slide underneath and get around the wheels. Taking the wheels off would make it easier to maneuver underneath but it is definitely not necessary. Since I was working outside I wanted to keep the procedure as simple as possible.
Too much Lube
i don't know about this being a good DIY without the proper tools. I'm seeing that alot of people are greasing up things in order to get bushings in. This leads to things like slippage that some have experienced (could also be poor desgin).
Coming from an aviation maintenance backgroun I just know bearings and bushing are NEVER greased. You must use the proper tools to both pull the old and press the new, and of course they must go in perfectly, if your angled at all you jeopardize the integrity of the parts.
i don't know about this being a good DIY without the proper tools. I'm seeing that alot of people are greasing up things in order to get bushings in. This leads to things like slippage that some have experienced (could also be poor desgin).
Coming from an aviation maintenance backgroun I just know bearings and bushing are NEVER greased. You must use the proper tools to both pull the old and press the new, and of course they must go in perfectly, if your angled at all you jeopardize the integrity of the parts.
Hey Tim - in your front page article you mentioned that a diy for the control arms install is coming soon. Just wanted to check if that's something that you are posting soon. I used your bushings install diy which helped a lot, so a similar control arms diy would be a big help to a lot of people on this forum.:bow:
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Wow, i just replaced my front control arm bushings and this has been so far the easiest and smoothest part that i've changed on my car. With a puller, it's a joke. I have one question. Did you guys change the M10 bolt that holds the carrier to the frame rail??? The manual says to always change the bolt. I could get one tomorrow but i would like to know if it's problem to drive it with the old ones for now.
TIA.
TIA.
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960 Posts
Cool just checking, i'll probably pick up a new some some time this week. Man the car handles alot better. I didn't think my old one what that bad until i changed it.
vaio76109 said:
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The two parts of the bushings (inner and out sections) per the instructions should be greased and even have grease retaining grooves in them.msphynx said:
There should not be any grease on the control arm itself and grease shouldn't be used to make the outer bushing fit into the carrier.
Tim
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I just installed the powerflex control arm bushings and it was pretty easy. The only PIA part was getting the driver's side bushing all the way on the control arm. I did buy the housings with the outer bushing already pressed in so the hard part was done for me.
But I now have a shimmy in the steering wheel at high speeds. Did I install these correctly?
But I now have a shimmy in the steering wheel at high speeds. Did I install these correctly?
It's probably one of the two things or a combination of both: 1) you need an alignment/wheel balance 2) something else is bad in your front suspension (control arms, tie rods, sway bar end links...). Your old OEM bushing could have been hiding that condition because OEM bushings are "softer" than Powerflex. Powerflex bushings provide a lot more feedback and hence any issue in your front end suspension is magnified.
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Thanks...probably my alignment. I looked at everything else and it was all pretty tight.
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FYI, I did a full writeup on this install a few months ago.
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link?
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