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'Performance' lower control arm?

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Old 07-22-2018 | 02:33 PM
  #11  
donbrew's Avatar
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Tool lending from AZ/Advance/O'r is a real thing.

No need for the hammer, just a credit card for the refundable deposit.
Old 07-22-2018 | 04:17 PM
  #12  
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Just pointing out an alternative method, I rented a ball joint tool last time it worked just fine, however for those to far from a parts palace, or forgot to get one before the store closed on a Saturday afternoon. Don’t ask me how I know.
Old 07-23-2018 | 06:33 AM
  #13  
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Oldblue….you mentioned that the 'front' bushing rarely needs replaced on these control arms. That strikes me as rather amazing as it is THE pivot point. I gather yours have held up, and apparently you have not heard of many failures? Again, if I were to go so far as replacing it I would prefer to do it with an upgraded bushing (poly). I don't suppose there is anything like that available....right?

Has anyone used the Prothane 7-244 kit on their HHR? The kit is spendy but you burn out the old rubber bushings and just push the new poly bushings in. Rather clever it seems to me, though I'm sure the burning out process would be an unpleasant experience.

Last edited by Oldblue; 07-23-2018 at 09:56 AM. Reason: Housekeeping
Old 07-23-2018 | 09:58 AM
  #14  
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Some have gone with that method, but I’ve not seen any reason to replace the front bushings yet, they are still in good shape even after 275,000 miles in mine.
Old 07-23-2018 | 06:04 PM
  #15  
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The front bushing never sees an off-axis load like the rear does. There... Does Engineer-speak make you feel better?

Laughing my a$$ off... not normally so snarky. Was on vacation all last week, and came back to work with this new perspective...
Old 07-23-2018 | 06:19 PM
  #16  
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I was going to make the same point.

They use a compound that seems to hold up to weather and ozone pretty good.
Old 07-23-2018 | 08:45 PM
  #17  
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Today, I rented a ball joint press and pressed out the Moog K200792 bushings from my original LCA’s.
I had to improvise because the second disc would not fit in the C clamp, so, I used my Craftsman breaker bar.
For torque , I used my other breaker bar and the handle from my HF aluminum jack, for the extra leverage.




Bar in place of that disc , it might fall under don’t try this at home kids! But it worked for me, when under pressure!



The ball joint press tool, I used the workmate to hold the C clamp, whilst I cussed and swore at myselve for selling my 25 ton electric powered hydraulic press, and all the adapters to do this job in a minute or two.



The 3 year old , 125,000 klms K200792, Moog is replacing them under their lifetime limited warranty.
Old 07-24-2018 | 05:35 AM
  #18  
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Sorry guys, I apparently hit a nerve or something.
Old 07-24-2018 | 07:32 AM
  #19  
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Nope, just demonstrating different methods to arrive at the same result , getting that rear bushing out of the LCA.
The rental was actually free, they put the charge on your credit card, then refund you when you return the tool.
Old 07-26-2018 | 01:01 PM
  #20  
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Decided to make my own 'performance' control arms, using the Prothane bushing kit & sway bar bushings. But when I was about to order some Moog ball joints (K80567) for them I was shocked to see how ill thought of they were (per reviews). If not Moog...…..what then?


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