Lower Control Arm Bushing Replacement

Hey folks,

My alignment is bad (90% sure it’s because of my LCA bushings being shot… already replaced upper and lower ball joints as well as shocks and struts). I’m feeling tight on cash so buying OEM, then getting an alignment+new tires seems impossible. I was thinking of trying to press out the old bushings but none of the shops in town will do it and some folks have told me it can be really difficult because of corrosion so trying it myself seems potentially disastrous.

should I go for a moog LCA set and take the gamble that my wheel will fall off one day or just bite the bullet and be broke for a while after going the OEM route?

 

Whiteline bushings on stock lca’s ftw

 

Unless your LCA's are damaged, there's no reason to replace them.

If you don't deal with rust, they can be pretty easy to push out. But since you mentioned corrosion, you may have to torch them out.

Clean out the insides and slide in some Whitelines.

To add, get yourself some Prothane Super Grease in lieu of the stuff the Whitelines include.

 

Totally agree with kwikvette

now to do the job properly, will take extra time cleaning/sanding. No shop tech wants to do that….just bolt on new LCA or UCA’s

with that being said
Up to you if you want to wrench/find a press for bushes and have taco being down for couple days
Or
Have shop do work in one day and pay


As far as a press…..
I’m fairly certain that a large vise will do the job for bushes(once CA’s cleaned)
GL
Let everyone know what happens or additional questions!

 

Ha! I had a vise that weighed 100# once (a BIG one!) that I used for pushing out bushings. One day, I was cranking hard on it to press out a bushing, and it BROKE right in half!

 

I just have a lot going on right now so I think I’m going to get the moog LCA and do the swap. I’ll keep the stock LCA and if there are any issues moving forward I’ll try to press out the old bushings, put a set of these whitelines in and then be set. Going to pay the $250 for a lifetime alignment at a shop near me too. Seems like my best option right, perhaps not in the longterm.

 

Also where do I find those big bolts in case I need to cut them to get the LCA out?

 

This guide has all your part #'s you could ever need for this.

 

most lifetime alignment are junk. The tech/owner don’t care as long as it’s in so call “spec”. They hope within two to three alignment, you’ll go elsewhere. By that time, your tire wear is probably bad enough to buy new tires.

 

FYI I went the "remove the oem bushings (fairly easy, as no rust in NM) and install the Whiteline bushings with prothane grease" route over two years ago.The ride was terrible after that. Jarring would put it mildly. I had plenty of people chime in with "I've been running with Whiteline bushings for years, and never experienced a bad ride", so take my experience with a grain of salt. After enduring that for months, enough was enough and I sprung for oem LCAs from Toyota, and the ride was immediately/noticeably better. Had the truck felt like it did after the Whiteline bushing install on the pre-purchase test drive, I would've passed on the truck and kept shopping.

It may have been because my Tacoma is a prerunner that's lighter in the front, but I'll never know why.

My $.02 and YMMV.

 

Yep. Helped a buddy switched his couple of years ago, he said OEM is overpriced, whiteline it is. Proper greased and after 6 months or so, it squeal like a pig. Kept spraying super lube around it to keep it quiet. After a year, out they went and OEM back in. OEM FTW. All my vehicle are replaced with OEM, I don’t mind the price if they last another 20 years.

Toyota bottle jack and a heat gun for persuasion. A press and HREW tube to installed new bushing.

 

Glwood/02hilux,

Damn. I already purchased whiteline bushings but haven't installed them. Horrible ride and squealing??

I may never get to replace the OGs but when I do, I guess OEM will have to be my route.

 

Hence my suggestion to use prothane supergrease and not the stuff included.

The regular stuff sucks, washes away easily, and causes squeal.

Use the good stuff from the get go and you're good. I pulled my Whitelines off a few months after installation due to squealing but once I used Prothane, it was good for a few years after until selling it.

Got aligned, tracked well, and never had issues with the front end.

So why did I replace them? I couldn't hold alignment as my old bushings were worn.

 

If I do end up replacing them I will be sure to use the prothane supergrease. My upper bushings are cracked and I just decided to replace the lowers as well. I bought used OEM upper and lower control arms and plan to remove and replace their bushings. Then swap out the ones on my truck.

Does it matter what brand of prothane supergrease??

 

I have to say, I never had a squeaking, squealing, or alignment issue, I just didn't care for the ride. You may not notice a difference, as others didn't.

 

Do you guys think getting OEM cam bolts/sleeves/nuts is a big deal?

 

They're way better than the aftermarket alternatives, but they're pricey as hell. Pretty sure they run close to $250 for all 4, so if there's any chance of reusing your originals, then that's your best bet.

 

If I had an alignment within the last year then it’s safe to say the bolts will easily come free or no?

 

Should be. Do you live in the rust belt?

 

The truck has been in Virginia and North Carolina its whole life… no frame rust