Lower Front Control Arm Removal, What's the trick? Options

[mskalmus]

I am replacing the lower left control arm (48069-20290 - #6 on attached image) on my 95 GT once the correct part arrives; seems I was mistakenly sent a control arm for an earlier generation. The bolts have all been removed, including the stabilizer bar link (48820-33010 - #4 on second image).

Now all I have to do is remove the control arm and I need to know how much force I can apply without damaging any of the other suspension/steering componentry. How do I wrestle this bastard from the car?





Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

M Kalmus

This post has been edited by mskalmus: Oct 19, 2015 - 3:36 PM

[mskalmus]

Okay, so now I understand why the bushing is nicknamed a "crush tube." I had to batter it pretty badly with the blade of an 18" screwdriver and a 2-lb hammer. I'm guessing the bushing is designed to be destroyed and replaced, not reused.

The replacement bushing slipped right into the new control arm with a bit of bearing grease.

Trying to drop the crossmember was more difficult than I expected; I never was able to loosen the bolt that attaches to the tranny/diff. I ended up snapping my Pittsburgh 1/2" u-joint socket adapter using an 18" breaker bar. Bolt still did not move, but my left rotator cuff sure did.

Reassembly completed. Now an alignment.

[jordisonjr]

Okay, so now I understand why the bushing is nicknamed a "crush tube." I had to batter it pretty badly with the blade of an 18" screwdriver and a 2-lb hammer. I'm guessing the bushing is designed to be destroyed and replaced, not reused.

The replacement bushing slipped right into the new control arm with a bit of bearing grease.

Trying to drop the crossmember was more difficult than I expected; I never was able to loosen the bolt that attaches to the tranny/diff. I ended up snapping my Pittsburgh 1/2" u-joint socket adapter using an 18" breaker bar. Bolt still did not move, but my left rotator cuff sure did.

Reassembly completed. Now an alignment.

The Front LCA's are actually designed so that you can't replace the bushing, that's why there's no replacement bushings available from Toyota.
You're supposed to change the whole arm when the bushings wear out. That's why Paul in Poland is pretty much the only option for bushings, no one else has done it.