First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List
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You don't need to press the old bushing out. You can, but there is another
way, which I used. Drill out the rubber between the outer bushing and the
inner bushing. Once you drill a series of holes through the rubber, the
center bushing and rubber will drop out, leaving behind just the outer shoulder
bushing. Some people use a torch to melt out the rubber. That will work too,
but don't heat the a-arm. Remember what part you are saving.
Cut the shoulder bushing lengthwise with a hacksaw or sawsall. I mean score
it along the inner axis where the cross shaft went through. When you are 90
percent through, stop and use a hammer and cold chissel to crush the bushing.
It will drop right out.
You need a press to install the new part. You must use a support piece
between the gap, or the arm will be crushed when you use the press. DSE
supplied a 1" length of steel angle for that purpose. The idea is to prevent
the arm from crushing as you press the bushing in through the two holes. If
you fail to support it, the unsupported hole will crush inwards.
The Harbor Freight front end kit is <somewhat> adequate to press this part
in. A press properly set up will work well too. Just be mindful of not
crushing the arm from fauilre to supporting that gap.
The ball joints can be pressed out using the Harbor Freight too also. On one
aftermarket ball joint I removed, I had to do some grinding on the excess
oversized shoulder because it was larger than the receiver cup. A pro kit
borrowed from a mechanic friend didn't have a workable cup either.
This is one job I would do myself rather than have done. Front end parts are
a precise press fit. You don't want someone in the back room wailing away on
your parts with a three pound hammer. That will wallow out the holes and cause
lost of the interference fit.
Look for welds. That was popular correction for loose ball joints after the
hammer-monkey damaged the fitment.
There are differences in ball joint outer dimensions. Some are 6 to 10 thou
oversized. Some from Mexico are undersize and will be loose. Be careful what
you buy.
Larry
Dan LeBarge <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Kind of scary when they finally let go.
Also, it is kind of difficult to press the old bushings out since you have
to press them out from the inside of the arm.
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