Control arm bushing and travel stop questions.

[SrRaV1981]

One of my upper control arm bushings seems to be wearing out. On the upper back side there is a nut, a washer then a peice of rubber then a washer and the control arm it's self. That peice of rubber is more or less gone. Is it just a doughnut/washer or is it the end of a sleeve that runs on the inside of the control arm hing point?

2nd question, the travel stops on the lower control arm, how hard are they to replace and where can i buy replacements? Mine are more or less falling apart. I do plan to lower my front 1 inch at some point so any suggestions on what i should buy?

[jayslowlow]

you can buy a control arm bushing kit. if your gonna do one just do em all.

[DRaven]

Control arm bushings are a bitch! I have done several sets now since I am the only one in my truck club with a press.

Energy Suspension sells a bushing kit for the upper and lowers for about $50. Look to Summit Racing or Jegs.

If your bushings and bump stops are gone then the ball joints aren't far behing so plan on doing those while you have the arms off the truck. I got my Moogs greasable units from Rock Auto.

The factory bump stops are riveted on so just drill the rivet heads from the bottom and knock them off with a hammer. Open up the back hole to 3/8" and get a beehive stop from the local parts store.

Hope that helps.

[SrRaV1981]

Thanks for the info. How will i know when my ball joints start going out?

[jayslowlow]

you can feel it in the suspension. or stand facing the front of your rim and grab the back of the tire and try and rock it back and forth toward yourself. if you have alote of play then its time to change ball joints. make sure you go borrow a ball joint/ujoint puller kit from your local auto parts store. it will make your life so much easier.

[SrRaV1981]

cool thanks guys.

[klintok]

Originally Posted by jayslowlow

you can feel it in the suspension. or stand facing the front of your rim and grab the back of the tire and try and rock it back and forth toward yourself. if you have alote of play then its time to change ball joints. make sure you go borrow a ball joint/ujoint puller kit from your local auto parts store. it will make your life so much easier.

you can do that or use a large hammer and hit the spindle perpendicular to the balljoint with arms jacked up to relieve the pressure off of the balljoint, i usually take the castle nut copletely off(w/ an impact) and then it'll pop right out in a few wacks.

for bushings, i just did mine and found that if you torch the old rubber out you can then use a chisel to pean a side like this

and they will slide right on out
the lowers after freezing went right in with a hammer, the uppers required the opening on the arm to be enlarged and then hydraulically pressed into place