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Control Arm Bushing Stuck
So I know there are tons of threads on control arm bushing install. I am not a smart man and did not really pay attention to a key point in all of these installs and even the ER instructions: use dish soap.
I was installing my new sway bar bushing using some silicone rubber spray and it seemed to work really well. I figured this would be fine for the large control arm bushings too. Also may have hit a lazy streak in not wanting to go get dish soap... Fast forward a few hours and I have one control arm with two bushings half on. I was bending a 3/4" pipe like an archer's bow and they weren't budging. A few Pelican searches later, I found all the warnings about using a grease instead of glycerin as a lubricant for rubber. So my main question is: are the bushings stuck on the arm salvageable at all? My gut tells me I need to heat them up, take them off and order a new set, but I figured I'd ask in case someone had a solution. May be one of those do it wrong once moments... PS: I was able to use dish soap on the other arm and had it installed in less than 5 minutes following the instructions. Live and learn.
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1976 911S Targa 3.0 2015 BMW X1 35i |
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03-24-2021, 11:13 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Carlos, CA US
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Post a picture.
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Porsche 2005 GT3, 2006 997S with bore-scoring Exotic: Ferrari F360F1 TDF, Ferrari 328 GTS Disposable Car: BMW 530xiT, 2008 Mini Cooper S Two-wheel art: Ducati 907IE, Ducati 851 |
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03-24-2021, 03:49 PM
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I used a typical 3/4” pipe clamp on the front bushing. These have very shallow throats, so I thought maybe the last little bit would be closed up using a deeper throat clamp (it did not). There was a ~0.125” gap that would not close up.
 I then thought that maybe putting on the rear bushing, things would some how compress and be OK. Again, it did not. I stopped here because the aluminum stop was starting to tilt in the fixture. I couldn’t get the rear bushing to move much further.  Are these toast and I need to remove and order new ones? Can they be salvaged with some gentle heat?
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1976 911S Targa 3.0 2015 BMW X1 35i |
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03-24-2021, 06:25 PM
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Did someone sand blast the ends there? Looks like it.
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03-25-2021, 06:57 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gulf Coast FL
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If you can get it off in one piece from there(and I think you can), it will be fine to put back on.
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03-25-2021, 07:20 AM
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Problem having a one track mind sometimes is I was too focused on getting them on. As @Eastbay said, removing them was pretty easy. I have two jaw long reach gear puller that fit really well over the flange portion. Gave it a few spins and they came right off.
Soaped them up and got everything done in under 30 minutes. Super easy with the ER tools and instructions. @gomezoneill, yes the ends did get a light blasting. I had the arms fully blasted and powder coated along with everything else. Hindsight, I should have probably just had the ends powder coated as well, but I was worried about clearance for the bushing. They look rougher than they feel, it's pretty mild. The soap smoothed over any bumps and they went on easy.
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1976 911S Targa 3.0 2015 BMW X1 35i |
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03-25-2021, 11:04 AM
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The ends of the control arm should should be polished not rough texture.
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03-25-2021, 11:20 AM
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