I took one one of my front lower control arms to a local shop to have the bushings pressed out so I could install new Prothane bushings. When I picked up the control arm I saw they had pressed out the outer metal shells along with the bushings destroying the shells. I told them that I just needed the bushing pressed out and that I had to reuse the shell, but they told me that it's impossible to remove the bushing from the shell because it's molded as a single piece from the factory.

Is there anywhere I can just get the outer metal shells or do I need a whole new control arm? Also, how do I get the old bushings out without damaging the outer shells?

Thanx

 

I would of refused payment until they made it right.. The customer is always right, remember that...

 

Well you will prob need to get a junkyard control arm, but removing the bushings is not too hard. I just had to do that on my 73 torino. You just have to heat the rubber with a torch and push the bushing out. It is kinda messy and stinky, but pretty easy.
Brendan

 

The way I did it is use a lathe. They are right that bushings are molded but they can also be taken out. Brendan's way will also work, but it's messy.

 

Got a link to these prothane bushings that work in the factory bushing shells? Never heard of such a thing.

To be honest i would have done the same as this shop. When you replace the bushings it comes with new outter shells as you call them.

 

I agree with this..

Sounds to me like you bought bushings for after market control arms..

 

I would say you got the wrong bushings as well. But in my experience if you want to save this shell, a torch works wonders

 

Buy a $90 hydraulic press from Harbor Freight. I use that thing all the time now but I originally bought it to put a poly bushing kit on my '84 Vette.

 

From working on older cars I have found that a lot of the poly bushings come without housings. Don't know why, but that is what I have seen.

 

That clinches it then... i must be right.


Seriously, the arms are sheet steel stamped and formed. Without a collar on the bushing theres no rigidity to them. With typical style bushings you would need tube to insert them into.

 

I have a set of Energy bushings that you need to reuse the stock on.I put new motor mounts on my jeep also from Energy they reuse the stop clam shell on those to,it made a huge mess getting the rubber off.

 

Either way, regardless of wether he got the wrong bushings or not. the shop didn't listen to his instructions and He shouldn't have to pay them until they make it right. People forget that the customer pays their paycheck and is always right even when they're wrong

 

Obviously he didnt say anything of the sort to the shop about needing the outer portions when he dropped it off, but did so after he came back and found the outers damaged.

Had he said something prior the shop would have told them they cant be pressed out and instead need to be cut/burned out.

 

"I told them that I just needed the bushing pressed out and that I had to reuse the shell, but they told me that it's impossible to remove the bushing from the shell because it's molded as a single piece from the factory."

He did tell them, apparently they told him its not possible and then pressed out the whole bushing anyways. To me it seems like they were just after the $$$ because an honest shop would just tell him to go get a propane torch and burn it out himself, or charge him a minimal fee to do it.

 

I agree with the shop on this one...