My "mechanic" at Firestone says my lower control arm bushings are torn. I believe him, but when I was looking at the summary of the service he wants to do, he was going to charge me $450 for 2 new control arms, $120 for link kits and then $189 for labor.

So I got a Energy bushings set from amazon.com for $38 and today I'm going to Harbor Freight to buy a hydraulic press to remove the bushings. I'm still going to save about $500 haha.

Anybody have experience doing this? Should I buy link kits? Any other parts I need to get? Thanks

 

there is a DIY article on here, just search for it. i think its on the FAQ page.

 

those bushings are a pain in the *** to get in.

 

I just replaced the whole LCA. It was not too hard and I didn't need a press.

FWIW, I asked the dealer to do it and they said it was roughly the same price (parts and labor) to just replace the LCAs.

 

yea just buy new LCA's you can get decent ones for roughly 150-200. Pretty easy to do, also dont for get about the special socket for the LCA

 

bushings are $10-25 each and if you dont have a press take it to a shop with one. Actually did the lca front bushing for a customer on saturday installed with wheel alignment and it was under $250

 

Make your own LCA out of tubing

 

$120 for endlinks?

i think oem endlinks from honda are cheaper than that...anyways, they may or may not need to be replaced depending how rusty they are..

 

If anyone needs stock ones I have two sets....

 

last time i needed to remove a bushing, i ended up cutting my LCA IN HALF. i HATE messing around with those bushings. take it to a shop and have them press the bitch out. trust me, its well worth the money and it will save you HOURS of frustration.

 

to remove the bishing:

rip the rubber and push the center out. take a skill saw and cut the casing so it collapses on itself, it pops out easy

to put back in:

put the lca on a vice, use some blocks of 2x4 so position the lca and bushing so the vice presses themn together. works like a champ everytime

 

wow

 

that wasn't the bushing that was that stupid ball joint that was welded on ;(