LCA Bushing Replacement

I am currently doing heavy MTX on my '97 Taco 4x4. Just checked the LCA bushings and the RR LCA bushing is marginal. So while the Taco is on the jack stands, I am thinking it would be best to just change them out now. And I have a 20 ton shop press and all the other tools needed to do the work. The OEM LCA bolts get serviced as needed and are not frozen by rust. But I may replace or upgrade the attachment hardware. Whiteline & Strongflex are the best aftermarket bushings I know of. And both are excellent bushings. Have read the excellent "Step-by-Step" writeup: Step-by-Step Lower Control Arm Bushing Replacement on a 1st Gen Tacoma (or 3rd Gen 4Runner) – ADVENTURETACO. Kudos again bud! Whiteline bushings are much cheaper at $74 a set delivered. But I am leaning toward the Strongflex bushings mostly because of the ease of installation and MTX. If I have time, I may drill and tap the LCAs for 90 degree zerks/grease fittings so the bushings can be greased. The only decision to make with the Strongflex bushings is which grade to use: all (4) yellow or (2) yellow and (2) red. Any thoughts or pearls of wisdom from members who have replaced their LCA bushings would be appreciated. And TIA!

EDIT: On disassembly, the RR LCA bushing was completely shot! Glad I caught it now.

 

Replaced the LCA bushings with Whitelines.

Did it in my driveway, no press needed.

Used a bottle jack to remove the stock bushings, and was able to press in the Whitelines mostly by hand.

 

Just a heads up that I think the StrongFlex are currently out of stock, otherwise, I'm right there with you. (obviously, hahah! Glad you found the write-up helpful!)

Definitely possible to use the bottle jack, but I've seen several sets of UCAs get bent out of shape this way. Always good to use a strap tightened around the outside to help prevent expansion. Success will depend a lot on how much rust/corrosion you have.

 

Yes. It is pretty hard to argue a case against using either the Strongflex or the Whiteline LCA bushings. The KISS method would probably be to go with the Whitelines @ $74. Will check on availability of the Strongflex bushings on Monday. If they don't have them in stock, the Whiteline bushings will get the nod. Did either of you guys bother with replacing the UCA bushings? Mine still check out to be serviceable. But I may replace them now just to check that box.

 

I've done both the burnout method and bottle jack. If you go the bottle jack route, use a ratchet stap or bailing wire pre tightened around the lca arms before pushing the bushing out. This will help ensure that the lca isn't bent. I really can't say which bushing are better as they all seem to perform well.

 

I used the strongflex after reading Turbodb’s write up. I used the manufacturer recommended 2 yellow and 2 red, I have been happy with mine.

 

I emailed Sonoran steel last week, they put some more kits in their online inventory on 7/20. I purchased one, not sure if there are more.

 

Moog makes the whole LCA with bushings for $97 on Amazon. Thats the route i went. Didnt seem worth the extra effort and risk of warping the arm in my driveway. Was happy to spend the extra $40 to save the time and headache

 

Now THAT is KISS in its purest form. I did just that with my '96 Camry. But in retirement, I offroad in my '97 Taco mud machine for 150+ days a year. And I am sold on poly bushings for off-road use. I have all the equipment necessary to press out the old bushing without damaging the OEM LCAs, no sweat!

 

Got it. I haul 2 kids in mine almost always on the road. If I was wheeling AT ALL i would have done a lot of things different.

 

For the rusty Taco crowd, from the bottom of my heart, this is the route I recommend.

 

For mostly driving on the street with an occasional offroad excursion, I would think that the OEM type rubber LCA bushings would give you a better ride than poly LCA bushings.

 

Sonoransteel had the red/yellow combo Strongflex LCA bushings in stock for my '97 V6 Taco 4WD: Strongflex Front Upper A-Arm Bushings 96-02 4Runner + USPS Flat - $108.55 : Sonoran Steel. Steve said this 4Runner bushing set also fits my 1st Gen Taco as long as I have the OEM Toyota LCAs. The bushing set arrived quickly & will be installed when I can get to it. This August heat & humidity is slowing me down to a crawl.

 

Do you have to constantly regrease those poly bushings?

 

Nessal,
For more normal uses, I would not think so. All the other poly bushings on my Taco are still serviceable after over a decade without any regreasing. But I offroad in deep mud/high water 150 plus days a year. My LCAs will be underwater a lot. So for my application, it would probably be a good idea to install 90 degree zerks & regrease the LCA bushings just once a year. But I very well may be overthinking it. Looking for the proper size zerks/drill/tap now.

EDIT: Looks like a #3 drill bit and a 1/4x28 tap will work for the 90 degree zerks.

 

Put some hard miles on mine, only pulled them after about 150 miles cause the grease that came with mine was pretty crappy.

Just use some quality grease and forget about it.

 

I used the grease that came with the ES ones. many years later, about 5, I tried to get an alignment, cams were frozen in the sleeves. in the process of deciding on poly or just buying a Moog set as I don't really hit any trails

 

Yeah the stuff that came with my Whitelines wasn't the best. I mean it stuck on well, but I think the trails, water, and mud I hit just washed it away.

I've got this stuff at home that I used later on those Whitelines and holy shit, big difference. You couldn't wipe the stuff off if you wanted to.

I'll recommend it to anyone using poly anything.

I'll take a pic later when I get home as I got plenty left.

 

If I don't like the grease that came with the Strongflex bushing set, I am planning on using

$18 Super Lube 41150 Synthetic Multi-Purpose Grease, 400g, Translucent White Color

Super Lube 41150 synthetic. But I am always looking at and for better products. My ES bushings installed with their supplied grease are still free even after over a decade of hard offroad use. I just reused the ES poly bushings in the steering rack because they were still serviceable.

 

Sonoran steel offers quality products, I don't doubt they'll have some good grease. I bought my adjustable panhard bar from them and in fact, they actually came with Strongflex bushings as well.





Whiteline and Energy are on the cheaper end, which is why lubricant quality is being discussed.