Replace Lower Control Arm Bushings - Difficult?

[MAD King]

Hi,

me again, after I had bad experience with car repair I like to do most of the repairs by my self.
My bushings are bad on the lower arms. It is difficult to replace them?

A shop near me is charging $50 to press the old bushings out and the new ones in in the arms. Is this a good price?

Thx

[kevinb70]

squeaky or alignment shop say it needed to be replaced so they can align it?

looks pretty easy. unlike the control arm on my truck which the bolts extend the entire length (instead of 2 separate bolts) which often have to be cut out as they are frozen.

you're going to have to take the nut off the ball joint and bang it out with a ball joint separator (ie: pickle fork).
propane torch probably to halfway melt the bushing so it will come out.
for $50 u could get an arbor press to get the bushings in. if you already have a vice, that might work too. use a big socket so you dont damage the bushing.

i would expect to pay maybe $25 for a shop to do 4 bushings (both sides).

if original and the rubber boot has deteriorated, id replace the ball joint after having to hammer one end out

[MAD King]

WOW, fast and great answer. Thx. That what I was thinking if I have them already out to replace the ball joints too.

Thx

[kevinb70]

use PB blaster a day or two ahead of time on the ball joint nut, the 4 bolts that hold the other end of ball joint, and the nuts on the 2 bolts holding the control arm.

my car is opposite of yours - known bad driver side ball joint but will wind up doing the bushings since "im there already"

[MAD King]

This?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web..._T|GRP2035____

[kevinb70]

yup

[MAD King]

Thx