[s-cars] Help with rear control arm replacement

[David Kase]

Indeed.  The actual removal and installation should be straight 
forward.  Of course my experience is with the CQ's but I would guess its 
the same.

You may want to take a peek under there ahead of time to look at the 
access to the bolts through the chassis.  The CQ leaves little room to 
get a wrench on the bolt and nut.  If you check it out you can get your 
bearings as to what tools you will need to get them off when you are ready.

Dave K.

Dave Ellis wrote:

> I was planning on replacing the whole part since mine are looking 
> pretty sorry from 13 years of winter salt.  I gather that's easier 
> then pressing out the old bushings and pressing in new ones (specially 
> since I don't have a press).
> -Dave
>
>
> David Kase wrote:
>
>> Are you replacing the entire control arm or the bushings?
>>
>> The bushings are a PIA to remove but there are ways...
>>
>> I took mine, used a torch to burn the rubber out and remove the inner 
>> sleeve.  Then I used a die grinder with a rotary file to cut the 
>> outer sleeve out.
>>
>> You have to be careful not to go through the outer sleeve and bitch 
>> up the arm itself.  You just grind a slot across the outer sleeve 
>> until it is thin the whole way across.  Then take a chisel and crush 
>> the sleeve inward.
>>
>> Clean the hole in the control arm well, freeze the new bushings and 
>> use a vice or press to install (carefully).
>>
>> HTH,
>> Dave Kase
>>
>> Kent McLean wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Dave Ellis wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Is replacing the rear control arms do-able with only hand tools, 
>>>> and are any special tools required (Bentley manual refers to tool 
>>>> VW267a to "press joint out of crossmember")?  Any BTDT or useful 
>>>> hints I should be aware of?
>>>>  
>>>
>>>
>>> Not having done it, I think that means it needs a hydraulic
>>> shop press to press the bushing in and out.  You may be able
>>> to jury rig something with a long bolt and some thick washers
>>> or socket wrench sockets, or try the Harbor Freight wheel
>>> bearing tool -- go to www.harborfreight.com and search for
>>> part/item number: 45210-3VGA
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Grepping through the S-car archives ...
>>>>  
>>>
>>>
>>> Now *there* is a Unix guy. :)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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