haha I woulda have had more than just long pants on. I did not walk out the door once yesterday.


Chef, it might look like more work and a little bit more money, but I would replace all of those. It's one job I wouldn't wanna re-do. Some of those look good, some of them don't. But remember it's all OEM parts and all are the same age. So the other ones can't be too far behind. That's of coarse assuming nothing has been changed under there already.

I have moog swaybar end links on my BMW and those haven't held up very well. Bad analogy on those moog's on the BMW because these dang e34 BMW's eat up non-oem front end parts like there is no tomorrow. Add that to the Northeast winters too. Just throwing that out there.

The boot on my Duralast pitman arm on the truck is doing really well though.

 

From the pics they don't look too bad to me. None of the are super dry or split. Prob wouldn't hurt to change them anyways since everythnig else is being replaced already and you could say that you did a complete rebuild.

 

I agree with Rob on this one. They don't look all that terrible but if you're going to rebuild the front end you may as well do all of these also.

I would think the aftermarket would hold up fairly well for you. You're not out on the trails beating the thing up. It's more of a DD and trial runner and I think you'd do ok.

Check these out...

Upper

Lower


Hope this might help you out some...

 

Hey guys, thanks a LOT, man!

Well, this is one of those, "I'm glad I read up on the net in regards to what this entails..... what can go wrong.......what kind of cost.....what brand/type of bushings, ...etc." BUT, while I can't speak for anyone, ...after SEVERAL hours of reading, research, etc., I almost feel MORE INDECISIVE!!! hahaha. But no, really, I think that,.....

1. Being that it's a CA. Truck with limited rust
2. Being that it's been very well maintained
3. Seeing that the crap under there is 24 YEARS OLD!
4. Seeing that the majority of Alignment/Suspension/Chassis professionals I speak with all tell me,

"REPLACE ALL 8 BUSHINGS, PLEASE??? Your rig will be MUCH better handling, much easier to align and keep in alignment, and it can actually take the EXCESSIVE and UNNECESSARY wear off MANY other parts. Do all 4 or none. If you do just the lowers, the uppers are SURE to follow not long behind, Murphy's law, ...then what, you wanna tear the whole thing down again?????"

I guess I should just replace all 8. I believe, even though the uppers are MUCH more difficult to replace, ....they cost less, from what I've read and heard.

I'll probably get all the bolts and nuts and studs I can, Mike, .... I hear ya. And thanks, Rob, Brandon, Lumpster, ...... I guess there's no real 'YEP, YOU MUST DO THIS OR IT WILL EXPLODE' type answer for this one. It's, rather, "DO IT, you'll know they're all good.... DON'T DO IT?..... well, you'll either have no problems OR YOU WILL!" LOLOL.

Seeing as I've spent nearly 650$ already, trying to restore it..... i guess, well, MAYBE i SHOULD FULLY RESTORE IT AS BEST AS POSSIBLE, EH? lol. My neighbor has done these, and said, "yeah, it takes time, but it's NOT as difficult as everyone says if you use a hydrol. press and soak em good"... I guess we'll see.

I found the lower ones at dealerdirectparts.com for 49$ each, free shipping.... That's 200$ into the LCA's right there. Hoping the uppers are a LIL less? lol. I'll check back in, and keep you all updated. I have my OME Stuff's coming on Wednesday... so IT'S CLOSE, MAN! Wish I had more CA people to help, or that wanna swap help? hahaha. But, eventually, IT'LL GET DONE! lol....

Lumpy, Rob, Brandon, Mike.... wouldn't you go OEM if it was the same price, on the bushings, at least?

PS> One more question for now...... Do Steering Dampers leak pretty bad? I thought I had a Diffy leak in the front.....but I'm starting to think it's the Damper just leaking it's last oil out at this point. It's MUCH darker than my oil and even Diff. fluids(which I change every 20K and haven't even USED the 4WD/Front Diff's in a WHILE! lol. Either it's the Steer. Damp. or it's YET ANOTHER LEAK, ....YAY! lol.

 

if something was the same price I would definitely go OEM. After all they got you that far right?

 

Exactly, I would go OEM and not look back

 

Hey Guys, quick one.....

I found this site, and wanted to share it(and actually find out if anyone has dealt with them????lol) dealerdirectparts.com, and under suspension parts, Control arm bushings, OEM, ......I'm finding them all 8 for $305.40. The uppers are literally HALF the price..... which I find a lil strange, but whatever. 300$, IMHO, is not bad for dealer, considering they want 94$ EACH at my local dealer for the lowers, and 59$ each for the uppers...... THAT WOULD BE 700$ WITH TAX!!!!!!!! F-THAT,(forget that, of course, lol)... if you know what I mean? I'd go SAS before I started down that road, PERIOD!

Any other ideas as to what I should replace in the front end? PLEASE, JUST TELL ME THE TRUTH!? lol.

Should I do all the sway bar bushings and Stabilizer Rod Bushings, etc.? At 300$, I could probably afford to do A LIL more(That of course is not taking the bolts and washers, etc., into consideration on the Control Arm Bushing Job... So maybe 350$??? lol).

ANY IDEAS? I really don't wanna go poly, unless they don't matter, like Sway bar bushings, etc...... if they don't squeak and it's best to change to Poly on some, ....LEMME HAVE IT, ...the truth that is, lol.

 

Only difference if the part was grease-able or not. If they are around the same price I would go a grease-able. Kinda like i did with my pitman arm. OEM I don't remember it having a grease fitting. I could be wrong though.

 

Grease-able on ALL of them? Meaning, a Zerk on top? Any ideas where to find that?

Any thoughts on that, anyone else? lol.

Thanks, B, I think I remember reading about some, ...but not sure they were for 86-95, ....GRRR, info overload! lol.

 

heh yeah, I don't know about the ball joints etc etc being grease-able or not. Twas just an example, bad timing maybe? who knows. lol.

 

Hey B, ......I think you lost me with the Ball Joints angle! lol. I was just thinking you were speaking of "Control Arm Bushings" being Grease-able. ????? lol.

Actually, i think mine held out pretty well for 24 years(Not sure what I'm looking at, but I've seen worse on other cars, regarding cracking, peeling, etc.). So, I guess, unless I go Poly on all of them...... I'd better just stick with OEM Replacements.

GUYS? I lost all ya'all already? lol. Dagnabbit..... get back here! lol.

 

hey IMO just stay with the oem or jobber stuff the polly stuff doesnt make sence to me if your not doin all polly.

 

Hey Jason,

Yeah, that's what I was saying above ya.... I THINK 305$ for all 8 Bushings......that's a KILLER deal for OEM, shipped, total. Even to pick them up at my discount, at Toyota(20%).... it would cost me around 600$! Yeah, .....I can think of MANY things I could refresh up front with 300$, YA KNOW? LOL. Plus, YES, they lasted as long as they did........(I'm pretty sure they're Orig, guys.... The guy babied it, and it NEVER saw off road until I bought it. NOT ONCE!....and I bought it with 100k, stock, ......and Now, I'm at 260K......... I'd say, if OEM, THEY REALLY did well for over a quarter million miles, no? hahaha).

Anyone wanna add some things I might want to also replace while I'm in there, ....so I can order everything at once off this site, instead of in sections? If I add lil things, later, I have to pay shipping, ya know? Plus, I'm getting REALLY close to doing this, ....probably around a week.(Sorry, I have to wait for someone who's helping me to be free from work for a day or so....and, The shop where we'd do this has a lift, so, YEAH, ...very important that i'm patient, right? lol).

PS> IS THERE A THREAD ON WHICH SEATS I CAN SWAP IN? I actually have bruised a rib, very badly, driving in these seats! lol.... serious, no joke, I can barely sit back or sleep well... it's killin me, lol.

 

I'm making like a lemming here and saying go OEM if the price is right close.

 

HAHAHA, ....great one, Lumpy!

Well, guys, the guy who will be helping me, (THANKS, MAN!), is saying that the Upper Arm Bushings are basically molded in there and NOT worth the headache. He said I'd be better off getting the arms with them in or finding some good used ones.. ????? I thought I'd read quite a few people on here saying they did all 4 arms......that they were a PITA, but they got it done and it was well worth it in the handling/steering/alignment dept.

Just curious if ANYONE can find me a tutorial on someone doing it??? I'm finding some threads w/ppl saying they did, ...but can't find ANY pics or videos, etc.

HELP? lol.. I just don't wanna order them if it's not possible.

 

chef., I personally would go to napa and get bushings . as far as doing bushings a press is ideal if not use air chisel and drill to remove bushing and vice or c clamp and big socket or pipe . start spraying torsion bar adjuster bolts. If installed right napa or jobber parts will last.

 

did not realize they cost that much . looks like I owe my buddy at napa a bigger favor than I thought the bottom arm bushings are outrageous

 

You did yours, Mike? I musta missed a post or my OMD is kicking in!(Old Man Disorder). Yeah, MORE THAN THE DEALER! lol. I mean, C'MON! lol. I spoke to my buddy at Napa, days ago... he said, "Yeah, lemme loo...... HOLY CRAP. Yeah, you don't want these! lol. Dang, they're 120$ a piece, with tax, even with a discount! 68$ each for the uppers.... Find OEM online, Mark".... Well, that's just what I did. dealerdirectparts.com had them for 49$ each, total, for the lowers and 27$ each, total, for the uppers. Total of 305$ with the free shipping. Woot! lol. Otherwise, woulda been 700$ or so from the dealer! Now, I can actually afford a rear locker..... Yep, that's next, after this nightmare, lol.

Anyone hear of FJ40 Tie Rod ends being swapped out for my stockies? I was told that is a viable option and I'd not mind doing it while in there... just can't seem to find a link to a write up. Any ideas? I MIGHT still go Heimed ends, but I'm weighing out the pro's and con's first.

I'll be sure to get pictures as much as possible.

PS> I'm probably getting all 4 A- arms from someone(not sure I can mention them yet, lol)>...... This will be great, as I can take them all in and have them pressed out and new in, .....paint em, then slap em in! WOOT! Keep your fingers crossed on that one for me, guys, eh? I could use some "easy dayz" news, lol. Well, ....easier, anyway, ...cuz I KNOW this wont be easy! lol.

 

Guys, any ideas on strengthening the Tie Rod Ends, other than the Heim job? I was hearing I could maybe do an FJ40 TREnds swap and it's a pretty simple "bolt on" application. Yay? Nay? lol. ANYTHING ELSE I should do in there, while in there? I think most everything else can be done, later..... or before. Just hungry for some knowledge from the Yotatechies! lol.

PS> My OME shocks and Stabilizer came today!

PSS> I can't say for sure, but I've read lots of good things about this site, dealerdirectparts.com. And, well, they're like 30% cheaper on most everything I've looked up..... plus free Shipping on orders over 99$...... So, thought I'd throw it out there. 305$ for all 8 Bushings from them, ...... 420$ or so from TradeMotion.

 

I think the only thing with the fj ends you have to drill the hole larger in the steering knuckle?