Hello everyone!
I'm in the process of replacing both axles, tranny seals and also the lower control arm bushings (where the shock fork mounts to the arm). Like most of the brave ones who tried to do this, I had to deal with a seized lower shock bolt. I cut it out and removed the remains of the bushing from the arm. Now I must install the new MOOG booshing I ordered. Unfortunately, I cannot remove the arm from the car because the inner mounting bolt is age-welded to the metal insert in the inner bushing. Thus, I'm forced to install the new bushing with the arm still on the car. I've tried freezing the bushing and heating up the control arm, but the bushing will not go in. I doubt that I could find or build a device that could press this bushing in while on the car (if anyone has any ideas, please share). My last option, it seems, is to cut a slit in the outter metal shell of the bushing and press it in. This should allow it to go in much more easily and shouldn't cause any adverse effects. What are your opinions on this plan?
P.S.: My old bushing had its rubber piece almost separating from the outter shell in places and it showed no ill effects. A small slit in the metal shouldn't cause a problem IMO.
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