control arm bushings, Fun, Fun

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geno58

control arm bushings, Fun, Fun

Post by geno58 »

Well now, just finished up replacing the control arm bushings and cutting the coils, on my 80 spider. One smashed thumb and a peeled cutical, all I can say is it was more fun than a barrel of monkeys..
WYSpider

Re: control arm bushings, Fun, Fun

Post by WYSpider »

Did you do the lower control arm bushings? If so what was your DIY technique. Upper bushings are supposed to be easy. The lower, not so much.
CajunMike
Posts: 313
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 12:44 am
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider

Re: control arm bushings, Fun, Fun

Post by CajunMike »

There is nothing easy about control arm bushings either upper or lower. Back in the day my father and i did them without a press and man what a job. What started out as what we thought would be a couple hours turned into an all day curse fest. I'd rather buy a complete set of control arms then do those things again.
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124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: control arm bushings, Fun, Fun

Post by 124JOE »

i did a lower early this year it was 72.50 completely built plus S&H
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com
Divers

Re: control arm bushings, Fun, Fun

Post by Divers »

Have to agree. I did top and bottom as complete units. Once I figured out the tricks it was an easy job. I used a jack to compress the spring then installed my internaal spring compressor to keep the spring compressed. After that the removal and installation was a breeze.
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124ADDHE
Posts: 365
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 11:19 pm
Your car is a: 1974 Spider Amalgamation with C40 Solex
Location: Salmon Arm, BC, Canada

Re: control arm bushings, Fun, Fun

Post by 124ADDHE »

I take a flat-blade scredriver and use it as a wedge and hammer it all the way around the outer flange of the lower bushing, this will setup the initial movement to get out the most nasty and rusted bushing, after that, you can use a large socket and c-clamp or as I did, quickly grap a ball-joint seperator fork and continue with the wedge concept...voila, two hits and she pops out...... I now use ant-seize where the bushing mates for a rust-free removal next time :)
Regards,
Keith Cox
1973 124 Spider
1973 John Deere 500c backhoe
1987 Jaguar VDP
2013 passat tdi
2015 cherokee
WYSpider

Re: control arm bushings, Fun, Fun

Post by WYSpider »

Thanks 124ADDHE, I was wondering what type of lubricant to use to insert the new bushings. Anti-seize is a good idea for both purposes - lube and to prevent rust.
geno58

Re: control arm bushings, Fun, Fun

Post by geno58 »

New bushings go in easy, getting the old ones out can be a fun time. I used an air chisel to get the old ones out.
The problem is there is no short cut , the inner fender panels need to come out, brake calipers need to come off with there mounts and tie rod arms. I used a sissors type ball joint seperator to pop the ball joints with out damaging the rubber boots.
I made spring compresors out of a couple of turn buckles, crude but worked. Used a 4-1/2" grinder with a cut off wheel to cut the coils and a small copeing saw to cut down the rubber bump stops. fortunitly my car has only about 32,000 miles on it, and rust wasn't as bad as it could have been. Rubber parts are more of an issue.
BEEK
Posts: 1833
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:45 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Spider
Location: clermont fl

Re: control arm bushings, Fun, Fun

Post by BEEK »

a pair of proper sized sockets and a vice is how I installed 1000's of upper bushings, the lowers I used a hammer and a socket, (my snap on man cringes) I usually replaced the lower bushings while control arms were still on the car, , just takes good aim with the hammer. The biggest fault I see in bushing replacing is over tightening the nuts on the pivot points. This will lead to very early failure of the bushings. I did use an air chisel to remove the old ones.
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider
, 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider
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124ADDHE
Posts: 365
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 11:19 pm
Your car is a: 1974 Spider Amalgamation with C40 Solex
Location: Salmon Arm, BC, Canada

Re: control arm bushings, Fun, Fun

Post by 124ADDHE »

Hi Beek. It would be great if you could please clarify how you hammer out a lower bushing with it still on the car? I just cant imagine getting the power to hammer these things out, an air-chisel had no effect on mine, was rusted solid and had to be worked hard! Thanks.
Regards,
Keith Cox
1973 124 Spider
1973 John Deere 500c backhoe
1987 Jaguar VDP
2013 passat tdi
2015 cherokee
BEEK
Posts: 1833
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:45 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Spider
Location: clermont fl

Re: control arm bushings, Fun, Fun

Post by BEEK »

hammer was for install, used air tool for removal
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider
, 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider
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