Replacing UCA/LCA bushings

[XJHummerRescue]

Just received my new control arms from Quadratec.com, and they are in fact made by Crown. Now I just have to get them in tomorrow .

 

[lawsoncl]

I have 258,000 on the original control arms in my '88 XJ. On the other hand, I have an '87 MJ I bought used with just over 100,000 miles and I replaced the driver's side LCA two years ago. The sign they are going bad is when you start to get a CLUNK when you stop after going forward, and start to back up "smartly" (or the other way around).

To replace the stock ones you need a hydraulic shop press and a spacer to keep from crushing the arms. For the small difference in price, IMHO it's far better (not to mention easier) to buy the complete arms from Crown or Quadratec. (Quadratec's arms may, in fact, be Crown, or they might be Omix Ada these days. Dunno which.)

When I swapped the ones on the ZJ, I just jammed a piece of 2x4 cut to the right size into the arm and used a big mallet to knock them in/out. A press would be overkill.

 

[Rick Anderson]

Just received my new control arms from Quadratec.com, and they are in fact made by Crown. Now I just have to get them in tomorrow .

I did also, I agree they look like quality products.

As well, I got rear swaybar links, they have a Crown Sticker on them and look like a qaulity piece. I got rear bumpstops earlier, and they also had a crown decal on them, they are a funky yellow color, and the rubber seems different than OEM, BUT it still looks like a rugid rubber and a quality piece.

BUT, the Front SwayBar Bushings I got, they were garbage, el-cheapo soft rubber that looks like it will tear or fall apart in no time. I should have figured the reason the swaybar bushings were only a $1.98 was because they 1/4 the quality of the $8 bushing you find at other places.

 

[cwlongshot]

Sorry my photos links quit...i upgarded my account and something must have happened...

I used a Harbor Freight ball joint press. It worked fine. Here is some PICS...

Good luck,
CW

 

[Highlander]

just my .02

When I did my bushings I drilled out half of the rubber on one side, folded in the side with a hammer and BA screwdriver.


Putting in the new ones, I put my bushings in dry ice for 15 mins. I whack with a rubber mallet and they were in!!!

 

[lawsoncl]

I put my bushings in dry ice for 15 mins.

Just make sure you store the leftover dry ice in a good container. I recommend an empty 1 liter plastic soda bottle with a half cup of dry ice and about a cup of water. Screw the cap on tightly and quickly, throw towards an unpopulated area, and wait a few minutes. :}

For the humor impaired or clueless, the preceding message describes a potentially dangerous act. I take no blame or credit for any resulting damage, legal problems, or fun caused by the violent explosion of innocent soda bottles.

 

[truckeejeeper]

does anyone have any more pics of these front suspension and bushing repairs-replacements? Just wondering, they are very helpful as I am restoring my front end. I'm sure Im not alone...? Cheers - TJ

 

[cyberbackpacker]

Do the quadratec upper arms come with the axle end bushings? Thanks.

-Kevin
cyberbackpacker

 

[Rick Anderson]

NO, the quadratec/crown UCA do NOT come with the axle end bushings. You have to order them seperately, the description page for the part will warn you of this as well.

The bushing itself is ~$7, so it brings the price of the ~$12 UCA up to about the same as the ~$20 LCA.

 

[XJHummerRescue]

They have UCAs at $12.99 a piece with only 1 bushing, or $21.99 a piece with both, while bushings are only $6.99 each. I just bought the $12.99 UCAs and two bushings at $6.99, and saved a little money .

 

[XJHummerRescue]

Okay, now I am stuck... I replaced the pass. side LCA, then moved onto the UCA. I got the old one out pretty easy, but now I cannot get the old bushing out of the axle. I have tried using my acetylene torch, air chisel, hammer and BF Screwdriver, 2 jaw puller with a big washer, and drilling out the rubber with a drill. I have not used a ball joint press simply because I dont want to have to disconnect everything. Is there anything else I can do to get this thing out, or do I just have to disconnect everything and use the ball joint press?

 

[Jackhill442]

Burn it out with a torch from the hardware store, they arent expensive. Be careful, it can flame up and cause a fire, but it works well

 

[IslanderOffRoad]

One at a time is the only way to do arms.

UCA axle end bushings suck. I fought all day to get 1 done, and said screw the other one.