Hey all,
just wondering, how on earth I get the lower control arm bushes out

I've tried hammering, drilling, grinding and yelling but they won't budge. They're just the standard rubber ones that have been in there for 20 years. Is there a special trick? I guess an oxy would help a lot but I don't have one. Any help would be greatly appreciated

I use a very large 1/2" drive socket and run a 3/8" bolt with a large washer through it. Select a socket that is slightly larger than the O.D. of the bushing and a washer that is slightly smaller than the I.D. of the LCA opening. Position the socket with the open end toward the bushing so that it can slip out of the control arm and into the socket. Tighten a nut on the bolt and it will pull the bushing out of the LCA and into the socket.

quick visit to pedders to push them out and while you're there get the new ones pressed in

When doing my 1000 LCA's I just cut off about 2" of my wifes new mop handle and pressed it out on my vice. Similar to the above post, I also had a suitable 30mm ish socket on the opposite side. That worked a treat. The new ones should press in in a similar way, just use a couple thin clean bits of wood or metal on the bush surfaces so you don't mark them.

Thanks for that,
It worked and I got them out, and now have a new front end on the car with shortened struts and new bushes all round . Off to Vicroads for me to get some registration

You say it worked PJ - what worked? Which method did you use. Take it to pedders?

Hey,
Used racinaround's socket method to pull the bushes out, was pretty straight forward in the end. Hehe, could have taken it to Pedders but I think if I go in there one more time the guy behind the desk will have a nervous breakdown.

The new bushes slipped straight in too didn't even need the vice. Was weird seeing how much squishyer the nolathane bushes are than the rubber ones though.

Cool.

Good the hear the problem and the solution...always better to be able to do it yourself rather than give up and get someone else to do it.