Lower Control Arm Bushings:

I replaced the lower control arm bushings with new ones. Here's how that went. If you're going to do this you NEED to have a press. You can't hammer them in without damaging the bushing.

The lower control arms have a stud that goes through the k-member and acts as the pivot. The stud is pressed into a rubber bushing, which is pressed into the lower control arm. Here you can see how the arm mounts in the k-member.

NOTE: I used rubber bushings, which press fit on both the stud, and the control arm. I understand that poly bushings are another matter entirely, and you have to re-use one of the steel sleeves. If you go poly, you'd better look that up before you start disassembly.

Here you can see the bushing that will be replaced.

You need to press the stud out from this end, inside the hex.

Here is how both bushings came apart. The bushing's inner sleeve is still on the stud, and the outer sleeve and the rubber itself are still in the control arm. Keep this in mind when doing assembly, because you DON'T want this to happen when you're trying to install the new bushings.

The rubber can be removed with a screwdriver.

I removed the inner sleeve from the stud by cutting a slit almost through the bushing sleeve. Then I stuck a screwdriver in the slot and popped the joint apart.

I tried to weld something to the outer sleeve so I could press it out. It did not work! The welds did not fail, but a chunk of the outer sleeve came out, leaving the rest of the part behind. I could hear it laughing at me.

The first bushing got abused before I finally got it out by using the sawzall to cut down the side.

I went to the sawzall right away on the second control arm. This one came out a little easier.

Here I am pressing the stud into the new bushing. The inner sleeve is just slightly longer than the outer sleeve and the fit is not very tight, so these could be tapped together with a hammer, but I used the press.

Then the bushing/stud gets pressed into the control arm. This is where the fit gets tight. Make sure you lightly sand the bore and the outside of the bushing. Remove any burrs and make the sufaces smooth. Then coat it well with anti-seize, and press it in place.