Upper contol arm bushings R&R

[Lincolnmania]

yea i removed some metal around one of the shaft holes so that the shaft would slide thru the sleeve.......really no need to remove the shafts tho unless using them in 96-02 upper control arms

[1987cp]

I see. Removing the shafts still looks to me like the easiest way to get everything cleaned up nicely, though. Thanks!!

[1987cp]

Okay, what do you guys do about the fact that the civilian upper control arm bushing shells are two different inner diameters, and the upper bushings supplied in the 4.3153 kit are all exactly the same? Right now I have one bushing all the way in, and the other one won't even enter the bushing shell.

Edit: I'm measuring the shell IDs (on the same control arm) at:

1.250" (for the one that fits the bushing)
1.175" (for the one that's too tight)

The bushing ODs are all approximately:

1.225"

[1987cp]

Attached: illustration of the above. Far bushing is fully installed and nut and washer installed and snugged down; near bushing refuses to go in.

My best idea so far is to pull it back apart, grab a sanding drum on the die grinder, and attempt to uniformly increase the ID of the 1.175" bushing shell. This would seem to be somewhat risky, as the shell thickness is about .062" and it would have to be reduced by about .038", leaving a remaining wall thickness of about .024" (provided it can be gotten reasonably uniform).

My other best idea is to attempt to sand down the OD of two of the bushings. This seems a much more reasonable (and safer) route to take. I suppose I could even attempt to chuck a the bushings, one at a time, in my wood lathe to increase the likelihood of getting a uniform diameter.

[1987cp]

OOPS

Further threadjack: Scott just told me on IM that the 4.3153 kit is for the late-model control arms. I must now attempt to either locate the two bushings that are different between the kits, order the 4.3150 kit and hawk the complete 4.3153 kit onto someone else, or get out the sandpaper.

If anyone knows the bushing number stamped on the two bushings that are different ODs, let me know!



/end{threadjack}

[gadget73]

Use the lathe and turn them down. A wood lathe should be just fine for that, the material isn't especially hard.

[gadget73]

Use the lathe and turn them down. A wood lathe should be just fine for that, the material isn't especially hard.

[Brown_Muscle]

late model meaning what years?

[85crownHPP]

If anyone knows the bushing number stamped on the two bushings that are different ODs, let me know!

I just looked at my 4.3150 kit - it has different size bushings for both the upper and lower arms.
Part of the stamped digits are missing, but it looks like the smaller upper ones read 3341 and the larger ones read 3342

[1987cp]

Hey, thanks! And of course, AFTER reading your response, NOW I figure out how to view the kit contents on energysuspensionparts.com. :p

Now, to see whether this info can actually do any good. Planning to call tomorrow and see if anyone is willing to send me individual bushings, or if I have to go ahead and order the second kit and go through the hassle of a return.

[1987cp]

Use the lathe and turn them down. A wood lathe should be just fine for that, the material isn't especially hard.

Hmmm..... now to pull the lathe down and see how precisely I can get one of these centered. I see the factory finish on these isn't perfect, so logically there shouldn't be anything to be lost if I can't get it perfectly smooth.

late model meaning what years?

'90s (the Aero years). These kits are both spec'd for '92-'97 IIRC.

[1987cp]

Use the lathe and turn them down. A wood lathe should be just fine for that, the material isn't especially hard.

Well, that was a LOT easier than exchanging it! Keeping it centered in the lathe was a problem, since it's set up to just spike a piece of wood along its centerline, but that wasn't as big a deal as it might have been since I was using strips of sandpaper.

Thanks!

[gadget73]

I'm not sure if the factory finish is as-cast or if its lathe turned to diameter. I think the inner part of the bushing where it goes in the sleeve is as cast, and the ends are faced off on the lathe.

[1987cp]

The outer diameter certainly appeared to be as-cast, though I agree with you on the ends being machine-finished.

I need to take one of the shaft nuts back to the hardware store to check my actual thread sizing; mrltd said in the stickies that it should be 5/8-18, but when I took the shaft into the store the kid helping me came up with, I think, 16mmx1.5 or so. Though, it has occurred to me to just attack the end thread on the old nuts with a cold chisel before installing with lots of red Loctite.

[mrltd]

Those threads are very close.. 16mm is very close to 5/8". They have to be locknuts. Did they put nuts on them or what?