az4x4runner

What do you have to do to replace the lower control arm's bushings? I assume I have to remove the whole arm... is this a job I dare attempt on my own?
Thanks...

mt_goat

Yes, you have to remove the arm. You will also need a press or at least a huge vise with a long cheater bar on the handle. The new bushings go in a lot easyer than the old ones come out, or they did for me anyway.

86toyota

Mt goat is correct. One other thing thou, sometimes the adjusting bolt seizes in the bushing sleeve. Then you'll have to torch them out and replace the special bolt and nuts.

Mossback74

And get an alignment afterwords

mt_goat

Speaking of alignment, mark where your adjustment cams are before you loosen the bolts. That will help you get it back close to alignment, at least until you can get to the shop.

az4x4runner

Thank you for the info/tips guys.

It may be a while before I can get around to replacing them though, it wont damage anything for me to drive/wheel in the current condition will it? The bushings are still there (I've inspected them), just not in the greatest condition I guess.

Unless something else is causing my occasional front end rattle/clunk noise on rocks/ruts and slightly off alignment (even after having it re-aligned).

Mossback74

Shocks/shock bushings, or swaybay bushings

az4x4runner

I dont think it's the shocks, and I don't have front swaybars

I'm just kind of curious if it'll damage anything to go 4-wheeling with the bushing worn like that, since I have a somewhat long drive planned tomorrow across some interesting terrain.

az4x4runner

So I take it noone is sure if it'll damage my control arm or whatever?

mt_goat

I can't think of a way it would hurt your control arm, unless the bushings came out and I can't see that happening. I think worn LCA bushings should only cause slop in the LCA. I think the worst thing about that would be quickly wearing your tires out and bad handling. But hey, I'm no expert on it.

az4x4runner

Ok, I didn't thinnk it would damage the LCA, I just wanted someone elses opinion on it as well, thanks.

ChickenLover

Silver954runner,
Good luck, and let me know how it goes. I'm planning on doing mine in a couple weeks. That rattling is enough to drive me nuts.

az4x4runner

Yeah! It drove me nuts today, I just got back from about a 4 hour trip out past Palace Station and down Bodie Mine Rd. It was annoying as hell, I usualy don't like having my music turned up when I'm 4-wheeling so I can hear if anything breaks, but this time I had it up for a while just so I didn't hear the rattle all the time! lol

...at least I got some cool pictures out of it all, hopefully...