Looking at replacing these bushings, ( the round one) some appear to be all steel/metal, while others look like a rubber material, as usual, I'm confused...Which one should be used?

Thanks..Bill

 

The only one I know of to be significantly better than the factory part is from powell race shop, they are engineered from more durable materials.

 

The stock part has cutouts in the rubber, many of the replacement parts have a solid rubber piece. I assUme that the solid will give a more positive road "feel".

 

MOOG's got a great lower control arm vertical bushing...p/n K6698, i believe...the rubber part's solid all around unlike the stock bushing.
http://www.partsgeek.com/mmparts/con...rolet/hhr.html

 

Scbill - and no, none of them are all metal - they all have a rubber insert in the middle. If you are looking at ones made of all metal, you are looking at the wrong thing.

The rubber insert allows the lower control arm to pivot on the rubber bushing.

 

Thanks whopper, the metal ones have to have some method of movement
(needle bearing,etc)..Also a press is needed, or is there a tool that can install without remove from vehicle?

Thanks...Bill

 

They have to be totally removed, and then you will need a press, although I believe someone here used a big vice and a socket to re and re the bushing. I did mine, but bought new control arms, complete with bushings and a new ball joint all pre-installed. The price was right, and saved time doing the job.

One of the people here also had a major problem getting one of the big bolts installed that holds the rear of the arm in place. He could not get it threaded back in. I don't know if he ever posted the final result of his problem. Mine went back together resonably easily (see the posting in the How-to section on it).

One of these days I'll pick up replacement bushings and install them in the old conrol arms as spares.

 

If you replace the entire control arm, its about as easy as replacing rotors. The caveat being that it is only if you use an impact wrench. You can do it by hand, but plan on it taking the better part of an afternoon. As far as lining up the big bolt, shove a fat Phillips screw driver in the hole to pull the arm into place and line it up. Have a friend hold it (its not hard to hold in place), remove the screwdriver and then thread the bolt.