Hi,
I'm replacing a set of front control arm bushings with poly from FCP. Do I need to press out the old shell or do the "burn and clean"? I know the rear control arm bushing requires the old shell be left in place but wasn't sure about the front. It looks like it will be incredibly tight if I leave the front.

Thanks!
Lyle

Note that ipd now sells a new, bare shell for each of the front control-arm and rear trailing-arm bushings which otherwise must be burned out to install poly. Save the hassle! Spend money!
--
Tom - original owner '84-245na; ipd 25/25 sways; full gauge set; 292K miles and Rolling

Hi,
I took a look at IPD and it looks to me like they only have the shells for the rear bushing of the control arm and for the rear trailing arm bushing. Can someone confirm this?

Thanks!
Lyle

that's I good choice if the orginal shell is not in good condition. in order to install the IPD shell you need to remove the old one and press in the new one. IMHO it doesn't elminate the hassle just changes the process. Buying the adjustable torque and panhard rods with bushings installed does.

You got it right. The rear control arm bushing uses the orginal shell the front bushing and shell need to be removed as the shell is not used.

Hi,
Thanks. Once I had the shell removed, it went together like a piece of cake and seems to have the right tension. Without the shell removed, I could force the poly parts in (with considerable difficulty) but when I tried to insert the metal sleeve through the middle, it expanded the poly a little and the poly bushings just wouldn't stay in place. They kept trying to "ooze" out.

Lyle

A bit of advice on poly bushings. I'm not familar with the poly bushings for Volvo's. But, I also own a '87 Corvette that I installed poly bushings in about 3 years ago. They really made a difference in handling but they all squeak badly now. I used the special grease that came with the kit, but I'm guessing it either wore away or dried up after 3 years. The company that makes the bushings now offers improved "poly/graphite" bushings to alleviate the squeaking problem. If your Volvo bushing kit comes with special grease, make sure you use enough. If you don't have enough, alot of the Corvette guys have had success using waterproof marine outdrive grease to lube the bushing sleeves. I am in the process of disassembling the front a-arms on the Corvette to replace the poly bushings with "poly/graphite" ones. I will also replace the bushings in the rear trailing arms (corvettes have four trailing arms).I don't want to keep doing this every couple of years. Its alot of time consuming work and when I'm done, I'll spend the better part of a day setting up the strings to do a four wheel alignment.