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DIY LCA Bushing Removal and Replacement 2005+ Tacoma (4x4) The Easy Way!

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by Crom, Jun 20, 2016.

  1. Jun 20, 2016 at 10:43 AM
    #1
    Crom

    Crom [OP] Super-Deluxe Member

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    I pressed four (4) Lower Control Arm Bushings in 40 minutes.

    If you plan to keep your Tacoma for a while, you will ultimately face the question about what to do with LCA maintenance.

    I have never installed or removed rubber suspension bushings before, until this weekend. I pressed four LCA bushings using a bottle jack, and propane torch. Using this method is about the closest thing to magic there is. Other methods involve burning them out, pressing them out, cutting them out, all of which are in the realm of "very-difficult-pain-in-the-ass task"

    The Tools.
    IMG_20160617_114502_72573a0ccdfb8d2b465a1412e62013a48179ac1d.jpg

    The setup. I need to explain this a little bit.

    The bottle jack is placed between the arms and mild / medium pressure is exerted on the rubber bushing. The bushing is a soft rubber and it will "give" and stretch in the opposite direction of the bottle jack. I laughed and had fun doing this. I applied jack pressure until the silver end of the bushing was about 1/4" from the LCA. I wasn't scientific about it, and most of it was just intuition and feel.

    I then heated the LCA "eye" with propane torch, moving the flame around and heating as evenly as possible.

    The bushing begins to smolder right before it releases from the LCA.

    When it releases the pressure, it can make a thud noise. Only one of my four bushings did this, the others were more quiet.

    It took about 2.5 minutes of heat in my case to release each bushing.

    IMG_20160617_111838_493338f95f19f1d03d9b29d5d05adc580450d361.jpg

    Bushing has been released.
    IMG_20160617_130927_c8b959d7f3cf75ea4d0a26d18ef4c94d9e3c68eb.jpg

    Good bye.
    IMG_20160617_132515_e2c421c72d4bff45c5d67ef862f4c52f021cc676.jpg

    All clear, ready for new bushings.
    IMG_20160617_132547_b78c9f5572f4a244d2df9af603b3d114e744cd50.jpg

    Not my video. It's a great example of how to do this.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ5BMfkuHlM

    Use common sense and safety precautions. Wear eye pro., heavy gloves, have fire extinguisher ready, clear area of combustibles, etc. Have a phone ready to dial 9-1-1. :p :D

    EDIT:

    I am super excited to report that Whiteline W53312 Front Control Arm Bushings fit in the Tacoma LCA!!!

    I had these pressed in about two weeks ago.

    I'm so stoked!

    IMG_20160713_171714_65ebd06f1c4bc57f21e27e68480ec571e23f3b68.jpg

    IMG_20160713_171732_82f3b60f8666ed4498cc77aa4e58211c5cc24b1f.jpg

    I also had a welder weld shut all the drain holes, and weld shut the gaps where the arm connects to the bushing eye.

    1GtEUvF2CFDYW-2GmHf1v-dy7usRdmMpfZCVuxw1_4ea49737bb9f7da1c1add7803fa0e9980d61ab7d.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2017
  2. Jun 20, 2016 at 10:53 AM
    #2
    AZBACKCOUNTRY

    AZBACKCOUNTRY Well-Known Member

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    Nice write up. Thanks for the well done pics.
    I know living in Arizona rubber only lives so long.

    Az
     
  3. Jun 20, 2016 at 10:58 AM
    #3
    jpneely

    jpneely Well-Known Member

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    how many miles were on these before you deemed it necessary to change them?
     
  4. Jun 20, 2016 at 11:01 AM
    #4
    12TRDTacoma

    12TRDTacoma Powered by Ford, GM, VW, and Mercedes

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    Always more than one way to skin a cat right?! Good job Mr. Crom.
     
    scottalot likes this.
  5. Jun 20, 2016 at 11:05 AM
    #5
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    This guy is da man? What did you replace them with Mr. Crom??? OEM or aftermarket???
     
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  6. Jun 20, 2016 at 11:06 AM
    #6
    trdNick

    trdNick Odie

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    Awesome write up! And what was used to press the new ones in?
     
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  7. Jun 20, 2016 at 11:10 AM
    #7
    trdNick

    trdNick Odie

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    That would get you 90% of the way I agree. This is the last little bit in question.

     
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  8. Jun 20, 2016 at 11:12 AM
    #8
    holyfield19

    holyfield19 GO TIGERS!

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    Busted CV boots and lots of squeaks.
    I need to do this as well. Also interested in what parts you put back into them.
     
  9. Jun 20, 2016 at 11:13 AM
    #9
    holyfield19

    holyfield19 GO TIGERS!

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    Busted CV boots and lots of squeaks.
    Maybe a big ass socket for the bushing to fall into :notsure:
     
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  10. Jun 20, 2016 at 11:14 AM
    #10
    trdNick

    trdNick Odie

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    A ball joint / u-joint press may do the trick, assuming the correct adapter is present.
     
  11. Jun 20, 2016 at 11:16 AM
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    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    image.jpg
     
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  12. Jun 20, 2016 at 11:21 AM
    #12
    Crom

    Crom [OP] Super-Deluxe Member

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    I have not yet pressed new bushings into the arms yet.

    The only options that have good reports are:

    • Toyota OEM, rubber bushing,
    • Energy Suspension, poly, makes you use metal parts from old factory rubber bushing (pain-in-the azz)
    • Mevotech Supreme, poly bushing
    All that said, I have in my possession a set of Whiteline W53312. However I have determined the whiteline are just a tad too large for the Tacoma LCA. But all is not lost, I know of three successful persons who have done them. I'm working with one of them and attempting to obtain details.

    Hope to have something to share soon.
     
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  13. Jun 20, 2016 at 11:26 AM
    #13
    colinb17

    colinb17 If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    Build thread in sig...
    for anyone who welds, after pushing the bushings out, is a great time to fix any cracks where the eye is welded to the arm, or even wrap the entire eye, without melting the new bushings going in.
     
    lynyrd3, Sje1124 and Crom[OP] like this.
  14. Jun 20, 2016 at 11:27 AM
    #14
    Crom

    Crom [OP] Super-Deluxe Member

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    Yes! I'm going to have all the drain holes in the LCA welded shut too. :thumbsup:

    EDIT: I altered the thread title to show, this is just for bushing removal, not replacement. Maybe I'll update when I press new ones in.
     
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  15. Jun 20, 2016 at 11:34 AM
    #15
    colinb17

    colinb17 If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    yep, plug weld the little bastard, and then buff it smooth on the inside with a flap wheel on a die grinder.
     
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  16. Jul 20, 2016 at 12:54 PM
    #16
    Crom

    Crom [OP] Super-Deluxe Member

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    Last edited: Jul 20, 2016
    lo2hi, fla_sun, GHOST SHIP and 3 others like this.
  17. Jul 25, 2016 at 3:26 PM
    #17
    MTopp

    MTopp Professional bear handler

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    Which bolt sleeves did you use in the next reinstall step? Or do the toyota cams slide into those?

    Also sent you a pm
     
  18. Jul 25, 2016 at 3:37 PM
    #18
    Crom

    Crom [OP] Super-Deluxe Member

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    The bushings come with sleeves. Skinny sleeves go in the front, and the bigger sleeves go in the rear. You use your existing bolts and cams.

    You can't really go wrong, cause it only goes back in one way.

    I should have the refurbed LCA's installed in about 2-3 weeks.
     
  19. Jul 25, 2016 at 10:01 PM
    #19
    MTopp

    MTopp Professional bear handler

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    Okay I'm confused about how the cams go into the LCA lol, but I guess once I take it apart it'll make sense.
     
  20. Jul 26, 2016 at 11:03 AM
    #20
    MTopp

    MTopp Professional bear handler

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    Is there a reason you haven't installed yet other than time? I bought the Whiteline bushing set, I think it'll work fine, just want to be sure before I'm stuck with no lca bushings mid process, so what I'm asking is, they'll definitely go onto the truck?
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2016

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