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Control arm bushing... help! I'm an idiot!


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Motard
New User

Jan 7, 2017, 9:53 PM

Post #1 of 10 (2015 views)
Control arm bushing... help! I'm an idiot! Sign In

Replacing the control arm shafts on my 91 Chevy G30 6.2 diesel. I have the control arms out, the old bushings were loose and were clipped easily with wire cutters which was confusing as everything I read said it would be a huge pain in the ass to get them out.

Everything I have seen about control arm bushings says they have to be pressed in. Only these bushings(moog) are super light weight and can be pushed into the flare with ease. I assume this means the press is used to push the flared end in... which I can almost do with my fingers so I'm not worried about figuring that out.

But it seems that if I get the bushings in on both sides, past the flared end they are just going to push through and be loose on the shaft when I thread the 36mm end caps on.

The bushings have threads on the inside but they are wider than everything except for outside the 36mm nut end caps which it looks like it could be stretched around... which means the bushing must squeeze between the rounded threads on the control arm and the threads on the outside of the nut... but that nut threads in so tight to the control arm I can't imagine a bushing fitting in between the two pieces... should I dream bigger?

What am I missing?


Tom Greenleaf
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Jan 7, 2017, 10:46 PM

Post #2 of 10 (2004 views)
Re: Control arm bushing... help! I'm an idiot! Sign In

Something is sure missing in description and names of parts. Looked this up and shows 2 types for G30, one for 3/4 ton the other for 1 ton rating and there is an upper and lower control arm for each side.


Something named is all wrong? Parts look up by me could be all wrong too. What are you trying to replace. Typical (nothing typical for this) large control arm bushings would be pressed in and if loose the metal of the arm is no good. Whole arms are sold still ready to install like this which may not be yours is a upper control arm with all parts including new ball joint...........

Here's a lower control ARM just the metal - you get bushings and ball joint separately.......



Again - two types used plus lower would have a sway bar pin to sway bar and shock absorber mounting holes. If anything like this type "control arm bushings" would press into the larger holes on the left side of that picture.


There no point yet as you need to know what you have and need to replace.


Lost without knowing what you are trying to do and replace. If this type stuff get whole new units and know that common type control arm bushings are barbed so where you tighten them matters where they would sit with load of vehicle on them.


If you are talking about sway bar holding bushings and brackets all terms are wrong with this thread. There isn't much you can snip out with wire cutters except maybe some shredded rubber so this needs describing better by you.


If/when these parts are removed to replace an alignment is required right away.


Any of these type arms must mount to a solid frame that isn't rusted out or badly corroded or if so need to think about this repair at all needing much more or can out cost this now very old van as practical to continue with and more to think about,


T


Add: Moog - a brand name: What is "super light weight" about any of this?



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 8, 2017, 6:08 AM

Post #3 of 10 (1998 views)
Re: Control arm bushing... help! I'm an idiot! Sign In

You have only removed PART of the bushing. The outer shell is still in the control arm and has to be smoothly pressed out so it doesn't bend and get wedged in there.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Motard
New User

Jan 8, 2017, 11:53 AM

Post #4 of 10 (1981 views)
Re: Control arm bushing... help! I'm an idiot! Sign In

Thanks for all the help, I'm sorry for the limited info I gave. I can see how that wasn't helpful... I definitely meant to say "upper" control arm shaft and that picture you got is exactly the setup.

I had a steering and suspension inspection done and the final two things I have to replace are the upper control arm shafts and bushings and upper ball joints. The rust isn't too bad and I'm never going to find another diesel van like this so I'm doing my best to keep her going for a while longer. Yes I know it will need an alignment following this, thank you.

I had a look at the control arm and there is a thin ring that possibly looks like it could be pressed out but I never received anything with the control arm shafts other than two thin poly bushings and the two large end cap nuts. So... I can take the arms into a shop to have them pressed out... but then pressed right back in? I still don't understand the relationship of the ring and the bushings supplied.

I'll be heading out soon to clean the grease up around the rings and I'll try to get pics of the shaft, bushings and control arm as I have them.

Sorry again, I hope this is more helpful(slightly).


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 8, 2017, 12:10 PM

Post #5 of 10 (1975 views)
Re: Control arm bushing... help! I'm an idiot! Sign In

It sounds like you didn't get all of the bushing out.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jan 8, 2017, 1:20 PM)


Motard
New User

Jan 8, 2017, 1:09 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1966 views)
Re: Control arm bushing... help! I'm an idiot! Sign In

I'm sorry I didn't lead with these, but I hope this clears things up a little.







I know I said there looked like a ring that could be pushed out... but upon cleaning it just looks like where the threads were machined into the control arm?


(This post was edited by Motard on Jan 8, 2017, 1:13 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 8, 2017, 1:17 PM

Post #7 of 10 (1958 views)
Re: Control arm bushing... help! I'm an idiot! Sign In

Yes, you definitely should have led off with them............

There really isn't any pressing with those. They are threaded in. If they don't fit, you may just have the wrong parts.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Motard
New User

Jan 8, 2017, 1:37 PM

Post #8 of 10 (1948 views)
Re: Control arm bushing... help! I'm an idiot! Sign In

Sorry I'm away from home and doing all this on a phone... I see how everything threads together and can tighten with fingers, but I'm not sure how the bushing fits inbetween the arm and shaft? The ones I took off were loose and mashed to nothing so I couldn't use as reference.

Thanks to everyone who has helped so far... In the future I will wait till I can put a more detailed summary together.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 8, 2017, 1:46 PM

Post #9 of 10 (1941 views)
Re: Control arm bushing... help! I'm an idiot! Sign In

You would have been a lot smarter to just buy the whole control arm, it's probably cheaper too.

https://www.1aauto.com/...S1s9ECFYVbhgodLqkKLw

$98 for both of them



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jan 8, 2017, 1:47 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 8, 2017, 1:52 PM

Post #10 of 10 (1937 views)
Re: Control arm bushing... help! I'm an idiot! Sign In

Here's the page for your year. ..... same part

https://www.1aauto.com/...?f=753911&y=1991



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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