[s-cars] control arm removal

[steve powers]

Bob:

> > David:
> >
> > > I'm trying to remove the control arm (93 S4).
> > > Manual indicates that I have to extract a bushing (metal tube) from 
> > > the
> > > inner bushing (metal and rubber).
> > >
> > > Anybody have a trick for this before I visit the Snap-On dealer.
> > >
> > > David
> >
> > liquid nitrogen and a hammer was my preferred method when I rebuilt
> > my former 4KQ. dunk the control arm end into the LN and give it a
> > sharp whack with the hammer. the bushing will crack into many pieces.
> >
> > Steve Powers
>
> What David is referring to is that after removing the bolt, the control 
> arm
> is still held in place in the subframe by a bushing.  This needs to be
> removed before the control arm can be pulled out of the subframe.  The
> factory procedure is to use one of those blind hole bearing pullers to
> remove the bushing.  The puller is extended up inside the bushing and
> expanded so that it grabs on to the other side, at which point it can be
> pulled out.  I haven't had to mess with these yet so I don't have any
> McGyver tricks for removing it, though I recall Scott J. describing a
> procedure at one point.  Maybe he can chime in.

It's been years since I did this, but didn't have any special tools to
remove the arms. I would have used a drift, e.g. something cylindrical,
to move the sleeve just far enough to remove the arm. You shouldn't
care too much about the sleeves - they get replace with the bushings
if I remember correctly.

I may have written this up for Dan's old list. You could probably find
it by using your favorite search engine.

I also remember someone suggesting a hole saw to remove the bushing (once
the arm is free). This should work.

LN is very easy to get at any gas supply house. It does a great job of
cleaning your driveway, science projects, etc.. <g>

Steve