John Bedore
Well-Known Member
What kind of money we talking here?
Lower Control arm Tools
- Thread starter John Bedore
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You can get a 12 ton shop press from Harbor Freight or Walmart or Amazon for $100 or less that would do what you need to do. It's just a frame with a bottle jack and the bottle jack can be replaced if yours ever wears out. I bought one probably 30 years ago. Don't use it very often, but when I need one, it's indispensable.
I got the big tap from ebay for cheap. Still takes muscle to screw it into the bushing shell, but it's a lot easier and cleaner than the hammer and chisel method I used to use.
I got the big tap from ebay for cheap. Still takes muscle to screw it into the bushing shell, but it's a lot easier and cleaner than the hammer and chisel method I used to use.
I have the Mancini tool.
With the arms laying on the work bench, it takes less the 5 minutes to remove both of them.
Putting them together, we have a big press at work, it makes quick work of them.
With the arms laying on the work bench, it takes less the 5 minutes to remove both of them.
Putting them together, we have a big press at work, it makes quick work of them.
Hopefully you used some elk antlers for the alignment
As cheap as light duty shop presses are, there is really no excuse not to have one. If you have an older car, it may as well be a prerequisite. Get a harbor freight coupon and go get one. They are cheap but if you keep them lubed and take care of them, they will do the job.
Naw they ain't that cheap. Not anymore. The HF 12 press is 169 with no coupon. But my God, they pay for themselves very quickly.
junkyardhero
Well-Known Member
sure did! calibrated hairy eyeball, just got it back from the shop!
John Bedore
Well-Known Member
I bought one from JEGS for 150.00
junkyardhero
Well-Known Member
which kit did you go with? and can you report back on ease of use when you get around to it?
Yup.
No special tools needed, though on some applications I can make use of my c frame from my ball joints press. More on putting the new ones in than to remove the old ones. I've seen a real similar c clamp type tool over the years made for control arm bushings but have never gotten to try one.
I've had lots of "black rubber marshmallow" fires in my gravel driveway, burning out bushings over the years. Then an air chisel walked around the circumference of the old bushing shell as far as I can without hitting the control arm itself to collapse it into itself and they fall out.
Though lately the last handful of control arm bushing jobs I've done I've needed to leave the old shell in place as I have taken a liking to urethane, and they usually don't come with shells. I've gone and bought the cheapest new bushings I can get and burnt them out when I've forgotten that I need the shell for the new bushings.
No special tools needed, though on some applications I can make use of my c frame from my ball joints press. More on putting the new ones in than to remove the old ones. I've seen a real similar c clamp type tool over the years made for control arm bushings but have never gotten to try one.
I've had lots of "black rubber marshmallow" fires in my gravel driveway, burning out bushings over the years. Then an air chisel walked around the circumference of the old bushing shell as far as I can without hitting the control arm itself to collapse it into itself and they fall out.
Though lately the last handful of control arm bushing jobs I've done I've needed to leave the old shell in place as I have taken a liking to urethane, and they usually don't come with shells. I've gone and bought the cheapest new bushings I can get and burnt them out when I've forgotten that I need the shell for the new bushings.
b-body fan
Member
What size tap did you use for this LCA Shaft bushing and is it the same for the UCA bushings? Thanks in advance.
junkyardhero
Well-Known Member
A few tools to make your life easier.
Mancini Upper Control Arm Bushing Remover/Installer
Mancini Racing Lower Control Arm Pivot Remover
Mancini Upper Control Arm Bushing Remover/Installer
Mancini Racing Lower Control Arm Pivot Remover
Both are a waste of money. The UCA tool, while it works well, can be replicated for about $10 at the hardware store
That there is all you need.
The LCA tool, well, maybe it works on some easy ones but if you’ve got a tough case it’ll just strip the bolt.
The 1 3/8” tap and a small press works FAR better. The tap you can usually pick up for around $20 used on eBay. A 12 ton HF press with a coupon and the tap and home made UCA tool and you’re probably not out much more than the Mancini tools. And you’ve got a press that can be used for all sorts of other jobs.
junkyardhero
Well-Known Member
american muscle makes the tools that mancini sells. they're okay for a hobby wrencher or enthusiast but don't last for nothing-- the threads gow out and washers get all bendy and galled.
the setup that 72blu posted is the jam for UCA bushings and the price is right.
on the LCA there's a bunch of ways to tackle that job: welding a washer to the bushing cup, cutting the cup and getting after it with an air hammer or cold chisel, collapsing it on itself and punching it out from the back. but the tap is the absolute easiest and safest out of the bunch.
can't recommend a press enough, not only for suspension work but just in general. although, don't mess around trying to press in the upper bushings, you'll likely bend the arm rendering it junk.
the setup that 72blu posted is the jam for UCA bushings and the price is right.
on the LCA there's a bunch of ways to tackle that job: welding a washer to the bushing cup, cutting the cup and getting after it with an air hammer or cold chisel, collapsing it on itself and punching it out from the back. but the tap is the absolute easiest and safest out of the bunch.
can't recommend a press enough, not only for suspension work but just in general. although, don't mess around trying to press in the upper bushings, you'll likely bend the arm rendering it junk.
Not sure about this but didn't American Muscle go out of business some years ago and some other company started making some of their tools.
Ran into the same problem with the bolts and washers. Solved that problem by replacing with grade 8 fasteners and applying grease to the threads.
Of course there's nothing wrong with making you're own tools if you want to go that route.
Ran into the same problem with the bolts and washers. Solved that problem by replacing with grade 8 fasteners and applying grease to the threads.
Of course there's nothing wrong with making you're own tools if you want to go that route.
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Totally agree. While you can definitely use a press on the UCA bushings it takes some careful blocking to make sure you don’t bend anything. I prefer using the homemade tool posted above even having a press, it’s much faster and it’s harder to damage the UCA that way.
Realistically, a tube like what you need for the tool is the best way to support the UCA to press the bushing, and if you’ve got that already then you’ve got most of what you need to make the tool!
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