^^^^Use lots of lube! err especially if the have urethane bushings.
Also if you are reinstalling the sway bar I would loosely attach it and get the bolts started before you slide the lower arms into place.

 

If your doing poly bushings, load the suspension before you tighten everything up

 

yeah, they are poly. So drop it off the stands, then jack it back up and tighten?

 

Crap. I need to replace the rear upper control arm bushings on the axle too.
They are pressed in with a metal sleeve around them. I don't want to remove the rear axle to get 'em out. I can't even budge it. I've pounded on it with a mallet and applied liberal amounts of penetrant. No luck. Any ideas? I see that there are bushing removal tools. I might need to get one I guess. Damn. More F'ing money.

Any other suggestions?

 

air chisel.thats how i have gotten them out in the past.or burn them out.that would work to.

 

I've heard about burning them out. Problem is the metal sleeve surrounding the bushing is pressed in ubber-tight. So while fairly easy to get the rubber bushing out, getting the sleeve out is a bitch. I had pry out the rotten, cracked bushing, then use a small metal saw to cut a slot through the sleeve from the inside out. Then I was able to push at it with a hammer and a screwdriver and drove it out. Getting the new ones in, is even more of a pain in the ass. I found a $30 tool online for just this job on latemodelrestorations website. Would have been worth the money.

One of my new lower arms I bought from CJ's Pony Parts was missing one it's bushings too. Sucks. I have to send that part back to get a new one. So my project is currently stalled.

 

I replaced the rubber part with a poly insert on the last 2 cars I did.

I used a 3/8 -1/2" drill bit and drilled a bunch of holes thru the rubber. Then started out near the side of the rubber and let it "run" around the inside of the metal sleeve a few times, it walks the bushing out of the sleeve and the damn things about fall out. You gotta keep control of that drill or it'll brealk your wrist though. Afterward sand the inside of the sleeve with some fairly rough paper and silicone lube the shit out of the new bushing.

Burning them out maks a big ass mess and could get out of hand.

Me no like fire!

 

Yeah, thats a good idea you have. I agree burning out a bushing out thats located on the rear end right below the gas tank...probably not the best idea.

 

Well what are you doing?

 

pondering....