silent57

I have a 99 4runner 4wd v6 auto. I keep finding different answers on this subject.

For the stock ifs front lower control arm, are both the bushings on the arm the same? When I got the control arm out, they appear to be the same bushings, but many sites sell the bushings as different parts. IE, "front lower front", and "front lower rear". So do I need two different parts?

Second question. They sell a heavy duty urathane bushing for the front lower front bushing. Anybody have any experience with the urathane?

Last question. I keep finding bushings made by "first equipment quality". Has anybody had experience with this company's parts or know anything about them?

Any help would be much appreciated.

4bangercraig

Hmmmm. Never heard of "first equipment quality." But Energy Suspension makes some real nice polyurethane bushings. Got em on my upper arms. Sometimes they squeak. Mine happen not to. Think it's pretty much dumb luck, regardless of how you grease them.
If you wheel your truck, poly bushings are nice because the arm actually rotates around the bushing. With stock style bushings, the rubber actually twists, eventually leading to split bushings and badly cupped tires.

scuba

Don't waste your time trying to replace those bushings. Any urethane you put in there will squeak like no tomorrow worse then the stock rubber.

Buy lower mileage lower control arms or brand new from toyota.

4bangercraig

Hmmm. I disagree with that statement. There's really no reason to replace the entire control arm for some bad bushings. Yes, poly bushings sometimes squeak (mine don't). But I've found that the performance difference IS noticeable. Yes, they are a pain in the neck to install. I had my mechanic deal with it (and he called me once to ask whether I was suuure those bushings fit in those arms). But my buddy succeeded in using the hammer, socket, and grease technique. Just takes a little persistence.

I only did my uppers, and have the lowers still sitting in a bag in my toolshed. When I get home, I'll check on whether there are two different sizes. My gut reaction is that they're all the same size, but don't quote me just yet...

silent57

thanks for the help guys. I think I'm going to try the poly. If they squeak and I can't stand it, I'll change them out again. If that ends up being the case, It'll be a lot easier to get back apart considering the next time around I wont have to deal with rusted parts.

When I get it together and drive it for a few days I'll let you know what I think.

By the way, I do wheel with my vehicle quite a bit. That's the main reason I'm gonna go with poly!

hross14

[QUOTE=4bangercraig;51595378]Hmmm. I disagree with that statement. There's really no reason to replace the entire control arm for some bad bushings. QUOTE]


Yeah--it is that big of a PITA--buy the arms brotha--youll save money in labor alone--seriously--they are that hard....

Arms with new BJs' are like 500 bones......But suite yourself--whatever floats ye old boat

silent57

[quote=hross14;51597272]
I honestly do appreciate your concern with the issue. However, I already have to control arm out of the vehicle. I didn't think it was that bad to get out. The only thing that gave me trouble was the rusted in cam adjusters that I had to cut out. The local toyota dealer had new ones there for $10 a piece that I bought.

I just figured it's easier to replace the bushings because I don't pay for labor; I do all of it myself. After paying for 2 new cam adjusters and 2 poly bushings, the project is only going to cost around $65.

hross14

the heart ache is not in getting the arms off--its in getting the OLD bushings out!!

But--ok--just trying to give a few words of advice. good luck and hope things work out for ya

CYi5

From the last few threads about replacing lower control arm bushings the consensus that was reached was to replace the entire LCA. They are difficult to remove/replace.

cpizzle42

I just did my last night. To get my old bushings out I sat them out in grass in my front yard, put my tire on top of it, put the stock bottle jack(thats under your seat new guys) and a 22mm short socket and pushed the bushings out one a time by opening the bottle jack and forcing the bushing out. I should have took a picture. but it took me all of five minutes, no burning or all that other bs. I am taking the arms to the dealership my buddy works out to have them pressed in right now.

silent57

I didn't find anything that difficult about taking out the LCA and changing the bushings myself. The old bushings came out easy enough and the new ones went in even easier seeing how they were polyurathane. As stated in my previous post, the only hard part was cutting out the cam adjuster sleeve because it was rusted in.

No squeaking of the poly yet, but I'll have to give it time to see if it will start squeaking once the grease I put on them wears off. I'll post those results after I put some more miles on them!

cpizzle42

What did you spend on the poly bushings? I dropped 160 bucks on OEM units

hross14

i guess different LCA must have different designs--we pressed, and burned and cut (In a fully stocked auto shop).....and everything else.

Ya'll are very lucky folks to have them come out that easy!!!!

cpizzle42

I dont think I was lucky. I think I had Mexican beer and simple thinking on my side.

silent57

Payed $50 for two of them. The brand was AST. I've went through a few puddles since I put them in and still no sqeaking yet!

Dang! That's ridiculous. I just used the press my dad has and they came out pretty easy for me. I expected worse seeing how they were the original bushings.

hross14

when we tried to press them out (1997 LCA's) it wouldnt budge a bit--Maybe the older models are harder then the newer models?. Anyways--i am glad it went well for yall. probably added three more years to your life before you get grey hairs...