Control arm questions

[J Wikoff]

I got new control arms and bushings for the front of my 92. Any idea what size the bolts and nuts are? What are their torque specs? Any tips for getting the bushings in or out? The control arms came with rear bushings already in them.

[MKMike]

I don't know if 92 and 93 are the same but here's what my 93' service manual says.
There are 2 different types of control arm bushings--1 frame mounted and 1 control arm mounted.

Control arm mounted bushings the manual says to remove the bushing by tapping down the flare with a punch.
Install the new bushing by pressing it in place and then form a 45 degree flare with something like GM tool J23915 to fix the bushing in place

No idea if a tool like this would create the 45 degree flare required http://www.amazon.com/OTC-7068-Control- ... moval+tool

Any good machine shop can press the bearings out and install the new ones, for less than having a repair shop do the entire job and it should also cost much less than the cost of bushing tools.
Yes, people can and do rig things but the machine shop may be your easiest/safest option.
Youtube sometimes has good videos like this one but this GM looks like it has a different bushing setup than the older Bonnies have
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo_CPLrRlmY

Frame mounted control arm bushings are pressed out with a bushing remover/installer tool, pushing them out towards the front of the car.

The bolts listed are
M16 x 2 x 6G (that's what the parts list shows--maybe they mean 600?)
AND
M14 x 2 x100

Nuts
M16 x 2 x 15 front
M14 x 2 x 13 rear


Torque the front nut to 140 FT LBS
The rear nut is torqued to 91 FT LBS

Did you ever get rid of the vibration at higher speeds or are you still in hot pursuit of the cause?

[J Wikoff]

92 and 93 are the same. I'm hoping replacing the control arms and bushings will help with the shimmy.

I don't have to worry about the control arm mounted bushing, they came preloaded with those. Does the frame mounted bushing need any flaring and can the tool you linked to at Amazon remove and install them?

[MattStrike]

You will probably run into a similar issue as I did with rust preventing the bolts from coming out of the bushing. I was going to try to come up with some kind of C-press to fit in to force the bolts out. But never got that far. If you try to use a breaker bar to just twist them the metal shaft in the center of the bushing will break free from the bushing and no amount of turning will get it out. You might need a few days soaking in penetrant oil to get them to start to loosen up, if they're that bad you might even have to loosen the nuts and take it for a few rides down a bumpy road.

But you can have a helper turn the wheel back and forth and watch each bushing to tell if it's bad. The one's on the SE have no rubber left in the one bushing. While it doesn't shimmy, well to be honest it's got so many other issues I wouldn't be able to tell anyway, it does pull to the left under throttle, track straight while coasting, and pull *right while braking.

[J Wikoff]

What you're saying, is to get new bolts and nuts?

[MKMike]

No, there is no mention of a flare on the frame mounted bushing.
I can't guarantee that the tool will work but I see that Autozone sells essentially the same tool as the OTC one for a little less http://www.autozone.com/autozone/access ... 94806_0_0_

You can view the GM tool here and you'll see why I recommended trying the others http://www.etoolcart.com/generalmotorsb ... 474-a.aspx

Basically, you're simply forcing the old one out and pressing the new one in.
One website recommends using a little soap to lube the bushing to ease installation.

20 years of road salt won't make for easy movement, I'm sure.

An air hammer can help with removal, as can heat from a torch or days of soaking.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/access ... ing=search

[J Wikoff]

The subframe was replaced 14 years ago, so I guess I've got that going for me. I'd assume the control arms were reused, and the bolts haven't been sitting untouched since 92, at least.

[MattStrike]

Hard to say on the bolts, I guess that depends on how much rust there is. I know that with mine when I do finally do this job I'll have to cut mine out.

[J Wikoff]

Well it appears the front bolts are discontinued. Rear bolts are on order. Hopefully the fronts come out in molested.

[MattStrike]

If not perhaps McMaster Carr or Fastenal will have something that would work.

[J Wikoff]

I found that bushing tool on eBay for $66 shipped.

[Zeik75]

When i did my control arm bushings on the 88 i took a bit different route. I uses energy suspension poly bushings which have a new inner sleve but reuse the outer one on the frame. This being the case i drilled out the rubber in between the two as best i could then used a large c clam and a large socked the push the inned sleeve out about half way, from there I was able to work it out with vice grips. After that i just pushed the new bushings in and put the sleeve back in. I was able to reuse all the bolts also, pros of it being garage kept for 24 years. Not sure if this helps but may give some ideas.

[MattStrike]

which ES part number/kit did you use?

[Zeik75]

I ordered from summit racing so these should be their numbers.

One was ENS-9-9483G
the other was ENS-9-9488G

To find them I just measured the dimensions of the parts and got as close as I could. they are technically called universal links but they work. I only had to modify a couple things, one was the inner sleeve for the large bolt had to be drilled out and the other one needed the bushing length trimmed a bit. Overall they seem to work, however I am getting some weird "flexing" when i'm on the power, not sure if its motor mounts or control arms yet.

[J Wikoff]

Am I going to want to remove the knuckle to get it out of the way? Am I going to be able to unbolt the ball joints (they are recent replacements, not the riveted on originals) with the knuckle still attached to them?

[Zeik75]

You should have enough room to unbolt the ball joints. At that point i would unbolt the top mount and just drop the strut/knuckle out so its not in the way.

[J Wikoff]

Well, if I do that I'll need new spindle nuts, albeit cheap parts.

[Zeik75]

.......so those are a one time use......?

[J Wikoff]

Yeah. They come pre staked.

[Zeik75]

Hmmmm so what I gather from this new info is that I shouldn't have reused mine like 4 times......thanks for the info!