Ok, for the life of me, I can't manage to get this thing into the control arm.

I'm using the aluminum control arms from the grand-am's. Shortened them to the correct length and now I can't get the bushings in.

I've tried using a vice, used a press (2 places actually) and it still won't go in.

Could the problem lie with the control arm? The edge of the hole is rather sharp and bites hard on that bushing. It tore through one of the bushings so now I have to order new ones.

Could I round off the edge of the hole to make it go in? Common sense says so but I just want to be sure.

Any particular method that works pretty well?

Make a radius on the upper side of the control arm. I mean a tiny tiny radius, and the bushing will slide right in with the use of an arbor press. There is a radius on the inside of bushing already, so make sure that you have it positioned right. If you look at the control arm (stock) I think there is a big radius on the top of it. This is where the radius on the bushing needs to go.

put some petroleum jelly on the bushing. i had trouble w/ a small vice and no lube. ended up taking to a brake shop and they let me use their bigger (6" i think) vice. worked well.


my carDomain updated 3/2/10 Forged and Supercharged

Pardon my ignorance, what do you mean by making a radius?

raounding the edge = making a radius

file down the sharp edge of the control arm hole...

also, its not much but the bushings do have a special curve on one edge that is suppose to alleviate this issue. should say it right in your instructions.



We all need somebody to believe in something...

Well I went ahead and ordered some new ones as both of my big one's tore. I did manage to file the sharp edges down but I think I need to a little bit more.

Now that the edges are filed down, could I still put them in on the vise or should I have them pressed in? Money's tight so I'd rather do it myself, if possible.

cancel your order, and call prothane direct...thats what i did. told them what happened and they sent me out new ones at no charge.

or atleast call them and try, then sell the new set you just orderd...

Doing a slight radius on the edge is what it took for me to install my last set of bushings into aluminum control arms.
Before doing this, I ruined a set of bushings and had to reorder another set.
This time, they went in much easier with little to no damage that will cause any concern over the long haul.

Control arms are now ready for delivery with Moog ball joints added.
Good luck with your control arms and just keep an eye on them if they look like they're starting to go bad.
Also you've got to lube the snot out of them so they slide right in.




Misnblu.com
Newbie member since 1999
Thank you Dave and JBO!

Made the radius and greased the heck out of them. Slipped right in with a little fight using a vise. The front end is now pretty stiff. Don't have any progress pics but I'll post some pictures of the final outcome because I did the aluminum swap, poly bushings, endlink bushings, new rotors, new pads, painted calipers, SS lines, and best part of all new shoes!! Big car show this weekend so I will have pics of other cool stuff too.