Lower control arm bushing replacement

[High Class White Trash]

I'm replacing my front lower control arm bushings.
Do I need to remove my torsion bar?

 

[RickOTR]

Yes, there's no other way around it. You can disconnect the steering knuckle from the top ball joint once you place a jack underneath the control arm then lower the control arm untill all the pressure is off the torsion bar. Then just remove the bolt from the torsion key and remove the torsion bar. Installation is the reverse.

 

[CDW6212R]

You will have to disconnect everything, that's the bad news. But the torsion bars you do not need any special tool and it's not difficult. When you get the parts off of the LCA, then you will be able to lower it a little more and take the torsion bar out. Remove the cover off over the back end of the bar, so you can get at the adjustment bolt and key. It has to go back together in the same order, so make marks on the bar to know which of six ways it can go back in. It will only work going back in the original way. Mark the front end of the bar to note how it matches the CA hole.

 

[fast_dave]

I'm replacing my front lower control arm bushings.
Do I need to remove my torsion bar?

Just sayin'

So I'm looking at this picture, and reading this question, and I'm thinking to myself as one who has been there and done that, with the required specialized equipment:

"Seeing what I see, and reading what you're asking, you need to know that the path ahead of you isn't as easy as it looks."

Probably too late, but my free advice is you might want to re-consider and get "populated" lower control arms...

HTH -

 

[RickOTR]

Just sayin'

So I'm looking at this picture, and reading this question, and I'm thinking to myself as one who has been there and done that, with the required specialized equipment:

"Seeing what I see, and reading what you're asking, you need to know that the path ahead of you isn't as easy as it looks."

Probably too late, but my free advice is you might want to re-consider and get "populated" lower control arms...

HTH -

I used a ball joint press to remove and install them. Not a difficult job at all. Just make sure you measure the gap between the larger curved part of the bushing and the control arm before removing the bushing or else you won't be able to reinstall the LCA.

 

[fast_dave]

^^^ Maybe we're looking at two different pictures, and reading two different questions

 

[High Class White Trash]

So how do I get grease in the passenger side upper ball joint?

I used a ball joint press to remove and install them. Not a difficult job at all. Just make sure you measure the gap between the larger curved part of the bushing and the control arm before removing the bushing or else you won't be able to reinstall the LCA.

I started to do them last night.
I removed the bolt out of the rear bushing on the right side and it shifted to the point I froze.
That's when I looked everything over again and got on here and made the post.

I ended up putting the bolt back in and called it a night.

I did my front shocks though.
I got an annoying clunking sound from the front end that I've listened to for 4 years now and Im over it.
Replacing the shocks didn't fix it so I figured I'd try the LCA bushings considering the are deteriorating.
Going to do my sway bar bushings before my control arm bushings after read the replys since they seem to be much easier to deal with

 

[CDW6212R]

R&Ring any control arm bushings is dangerous, I stopped doing that 30 years ago. It's cheaper to me to pay to have it done, or buy complete new CA's, which has been the last four times.

Before loosening the CA bolts, have the truck on jack stands, and remove the UCA BJ bolt early on, which begins to let the LCA droop. Use a sledge hammer to smack the TRE to make it let go(nut loose), and one at a time remove the other parts connected to the LCA etc.