Inner control arm bushing replacement

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I decided to put some new inner controll arm bushings on the front and heres how I did them.

First drill out as much rubber as you can or have the patience to do.

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then I used a propane torch to remove the center metal sleave.

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then the fun begins, to remove whats left of the bushings I cut the sleave in 2 places and removed the part in the middle

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I thought I could then get those smaller pieces out no problem think again, so to get them out I cut a notch in them both with a hack saw

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this is the hard side, I first used the saw through the middle then used the saw at a 90 degree to that, it is not cut all the way down the side of the bushing trough the arm.

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then collapse the gap you made with the hack saw and the rest of the bushing falls out. I used a big screwdriver and a bigger hammer.

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new nismo bushing from courtesy nissan, ordered from web store.

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press in new bushing, I used a inexpensive press I bought from harbor frieght tools, worked fine and was afordable. You may be thinking why didn't I press the old bushing out, its the way the bushing is in there it would be very hard for me to press out if you had the right size drafts it could be done but I didnt so I did it my way. I used some big *** 1 9/16 cheapo sockets for drafts the socket in sideways is to provide support for the control arm so it doesnt colapse under the stress of the press. I strongly recomend this, I used a craftsman 1 1/8.

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After that you can put it all back together, the FSM say you should make the finall tightening with the car on the ground. If I remember right most of the tourqe specs where 60 ft lbs on the big suspension bolts. During this install I also did poly tension rods and the controll arm ball joints. With those 3 things done all at the same time the steering tightened up imensly, when you move the wheel the car moves, and I was happy with the results.

[ShifDown96240SE]

I did that to my 96 SE, it was the biggest pain in the a$$, but mine were a little bigger, and i got the whole energy suspension kit, theyre polyurethane. i used propane and screwdrivers for everything, i guess youre supposed to use an air hammer, nut oh well...

[ShifDown96240SE]

i thopught mine was called a connecting rod, but oh well