Does anyone have any tricks for removal of lower a-arm bushings? i cant seem to get them out.
thanks

VoLvO_4_LiFe

I may be less subtle than you guys. I use my official BFH (that's a hammer) and a punch or chisel. Brace the thing against something sturdy, like a curb or a block of wood against the foundation of your garage- try to keep the bracket backed into a corner so it doesn't move while you're striking it.
Hit the outside edge of the bushing's metal shell to collapse it in upon itself. Once you do this, a few taps from the backside and it should push right out of the bracket. You're going to basically collapse the tube of the bushing to reduce it's diameter.
Turn the bracket so the end of it now faces the wall, rather than the side. (Or put it in a vise, but I like the ground method because it keeps the bottom on a flat surface and seems to me to reduce the chance of distorting it.)
Apply a little PB blaster and drive the bushing straight into the bracket, observing the UP mark on the bushing and orientation of the bracket when installed. Apply small taps all the way around the bushing and it should drive right in to the face of the bracket. I haven't had any trouble using this method but you must be careful to drive it straight- stop, check and observe that it remains parallel as you go.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 225K, 88 744GLE- 209K, 91 244 183K. Also responsible for the care and feeding of: 88 745GLE, 229K, 88 244GL, 146K, 87 244DL, 235K, 88 245DL, 236K

If you don't have access to a press, drill out the rubber and this will cause the center secton to come out. Then use a hack saw and make a vertical slit to the remaining steel shell and it will come out.

I wouldn't use the torch method.

I was able to get mine out using that method but they had to be pressed in at a machine shop.

After a while the left side started to float in/out (makes a ratcheting noise right under my feet at times) and I think it was because the hole was distorted due to the heat I applied.

I got another bracket from the bone yard and I am going to buy a new bushing and have the machine shop press the old one out and the new one in.

Good luck.
Kyle245

Use a blowtorch to melt/burn them out, in the worst case.
Then use a hacksaw to cut through the bushing's metal shell - do
A-arm bushings even _have_ shells?
.
-b.

Yes, they have metal shells. A press works best. Be careful about beating on the rear control arm bushings. The opening can become egg shaped (you'll never notice) and cause all sorts of rattling and clunking.