Hi could somebody please advise me on the procedure on removing the front suspension bushings on the lower arm (3 in total)
in preparation for fitting new poly bushings including the lower shock bush please.
Any advice would be great fully received before I start hammering,
Thanks in advance kev.
If you do not have access to a hydraulic press do not expect it to be an easy job.
From experience I can tell you its difficult and time consuming.
Two options buy a pair of A arms and clean, fettle, paint if you want and replace the bushes in them then exchange them over on the car.
Second with a prior arrangement, remove them both from the car and take them to a workshop and have the old bushes pressed out and the new ones pressed in.
You will need to have the front wheel alignment checked and set up after you finish as there is an adjuster on that arm.
Good luck with a hammer and mind your fingers…
Never done this myself, but have heard of people struggling for ages before trying heat, then it became easy. See the link below for a “how to”.
https://www.suspension.com/blog/how-to-burn-out-suspension-bushings-the-right-way/#:~:text=The%20correct%20way%20to%20remove,with%20the%20outer%20metal%20shell.
Thanks guys,
Yes I’m under no illusion it’s going to be an enjoyable job!
I’m in no rush as the cars is sorn and in pieces having bits done ,so I can take my time and using the “how to” link provided (which is great so many thanks) get my blow torch ready and crack on,
How hard can it be right?
Many thanks kev.
Good luck getting the inner bolt out that holds the adjuster…
I had to deal with this recently and without going into detail I can tell you that it was the worst job I’ve ever undertaken and I still failed to remove it.
It ended up going to a specialist who spent all day heating it until it was glowing white and it still wouldn’t release from the metal carrier inside the bushing. They tried cutting it out, still wouldn’t budge, so in the end they cut the lower wishbone completely off and then went into the bushing holder sideways to release it…
Eventually it came free and relieved me of £400 in the process for labour alone.
Be prepared to fall out of love with your car really quickly… I came bloody close.
This shows the upper but similar method should work
Oh dear Chrismk3 £400 
I’m afraid to say it now,but The arms are already off, and only one of them blighted bolts needed the lump hammer treatment and overnight soaking, left much longer and I’d of been in the same boat for sure.
If it makes you feel any better I had a similar set too with a rear toe control arm hub bolt not so long ago, bloody thing almost broke me!
Thanks mk375 I watched that last night before tackling the uppers and yes I can report back that it does indeed ‘sort’ of work.
Thanks Kev.
Who did that?
Im thinking about replacing these upper bushes… why does the guy hacksaw out the inner steel sleeve ?
is this necessary , my apologies for my ignorance but Im new to the NC
Patrick
Apparently, they’re as tight as a ducks ar$e in water to remove
Because they’ve been pressed in exceptionally tightly from the outside in, you can’t get in to press them from the inside back out.
If/when you put a saw through them you have to be so careful not to catch the actual arm and put a saw mark in it, if you do it’s a weak spot straight away and could fail.
I have seen pics of arms failing there after people have fitted Polybushes.
I see these arms on eBay for not so much, maybe £30-40. Is there an option to get replacements, rebush them then get a bit brutal with the original arm, cutting through the aluminium?
When I had my alignment done, the drivers side front and rear were stuck and setup was tricky
I have replaced bushes before and found that, if I drill through the rubber part all around the bush, I can lever it completely out with a cheap flat blade vice and an appropriately sized socket.
I think we’re all talking about different arms now.
It’s bottom one which usually gets seized onto the actual car.
It’s the top arm bushes which Pale rider is talking about.
Cheers for staying on track bud, why is it necessary to cut through those steel sleeves ?
All poly bush kits Ive seen online only show the actual bush and inner steel sleeve and not the larger outer sleeve which is cut out ?
Because the outer sleeve is part of the (old) bush. The rubber is bonded to that sleeve so the whole lot comes out.
Thanks for clarification on that , new bushes obviously slightly larger OD
Yes, the new bush is the diameter of the hole in the aluminium.
In your opinion is it worth changing ? Only reason Ive considered doing this is Im going to purchase coilovers in near future and thought it may be wise to change ?
It depends on what you’re doing with it and if they’re buggered or not.