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Lower control arm bushings in backwards 140-160 1974

posted by  someone claiming to be Ted on  Tue Oct 14 19:58 CST 2003 [RELATED]

I thought I new what I was doing but I should have looked at the manual!

It had been more than a week since I pulled a fresh pair of control arms from the yard and pushed out out the old bushings.

I was all excited because I had just boxed and painted my new lower control arms. They looked totally sweet, totally bomber with sturdy angle iron reinforcements and three fresh coats of satin black...

Now for the polly bushings! In they went. "Cool!" In went the new ball joints. "Cool! The arms are ready to be installed tomorrow. Everything is ready for the big day."

Not quite. I opened my Haynes manual before going down to class. I scaned the section about control arm bushings. "Oh shit." Why hadn't I taken the book with me the day before? Why hadn't I at least looked?

I thought I knew. I had successufully replaced them many years before. At least I was correct on how the upper ones went.

I was so sure that the flanges were to face the front of the car and the bushings were therefore to be pressed in from the front. It just seemed so obvious. Oh well.

QUESTION(s):

Since I am pretty sure that mounting the lower contol arms with the bushings in backwards (if possible) will adversely affect the geometry of my front suspension I am resigned to push the bushings back out and re-install them so the flanges point towards the back of the car. Am I correct in thinking I need to do this?

My second question has to do whith what to use to get them out without destroying them. I have the use of a big press that works great. I can't find the correct diameter pipe at the hardware store. One and a half inch copper is close but not close enough.

I am thinking of purchasing a rubber control arm bushing, taking it apart, and seeing if I can get the outer metal sleave to work. (I am thinking it will if I sand down the outside a bit.)

Any ideas?

Thanks!

- Ted

'74 144GL purchased in '83 for $250.00 and faithful ever since.





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