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  • HappyAndy

    Oct. 14, 2009 5:11 p.m. HappyAndy Reader

    I am going to be rebuilding the front suspension on a relatives Toyota camry this weekend, including replacing torn lower control arm bushings. Is there a good shade tree, er I mean grassroots method to extracting and installing the rear bushing (rear part of the front lower arm) that looks a bit like a hockey puck with a metal band around it? I don't have a press, but I do have a big old bench vise and lots of big hammers. Thanks in advance for the help GRM'ers.

    Edit: forgot to mention that its a late ninties camry with a 4cyl if that makes any difference.

  • HeavyDuty

    Oct. 14, 2009 6:50 p.m. HeavyDuty Reader

    If it's what I think you are explaining - do you have a torch? Just don't let them see you do it or hopefully they won't be in the 4 mile radius to smell the burning rubber. Remember though, you aren't trying to melt the arm, just remove some material from the bushing. Or, I've tried the big hammer and the issue is finding the correct item to hammer to get the bushing out. Impact socket set might have something to help you. Careful though, it's easier than you think to bend that arm when working with vises and hammers. Unless that's just my supper man strength. Combination of above - heat and bfh - might be needed.

  • xci_ed6

    Oct. 14, 2009 7:10 p.m. xci_ed6 Reader

    On metal sleeved bushings I've used a hacksaw. Remove the metal center with a vice and torch (twist it, and it pops free). Hacksaw through the rubber and sleeve 2x, about 45* apart, then tap out the wedge, then the bushing. Use a drift on the sleeve, and work around it.

    I was installing energy suspension parts, so there was no sleeve to worry about. I'd guess that freezing the bushing & heating the arm might get enough clearance to press it in with a vice.

  • pinchvalve

    Oct. 14, 2009 8:55 p.m. pinchvalve UltraDork

    I have done many of these. I can tell you that you cannot melt them out unless you have an actual cutting torch.

    You can't hammer them out. Impact absorbing rubber remember? The harder you hit, the faster the hammer bounces back at your face.

    Utility knives work best at cutting rubber, but you can never get to the rubber so that rarely helps.

    A drill will go through rubber pretty easily, but unless you have a drill press, you will most likely grind up the inside of the control arm. If not made perfectly smooth again this will mess up the replacement bushings.

    Most places that do suspension work will press them out for $1 each or so.

    I pressed some out myself using a large bench vise and some sockets. If you can get it started, you can usually grab it and pull it the rest of the way. You can push a 1" socket all the way into a bushing and have it pop back out. Small sections of black iron pipe from Lowes can help.

    The hacksaw blade through the center is great if you can do it. Cut it into 3 or 4 sections and pull them right out. Again, be careful of the outer wall of the control arm.

    If the rubber of the bushing extends over the face of the control arm, cut that flange off first, it will slow you down.

 

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