Lower control arm bushings

I recently bought some new Energy Suspension Poly control arm bushings. With these bushings you need to re-use the OEM LCA bushing sleeves so I had to burn the rubber out of the bushings and spent probably 3 hours or more getting the rubber off of the sleeves and the bushing bores in the arm. Is this the only way to get these rubber bushings out? What a pain in the butt!

 

It’s not bad if you get them hot enough. Did not take me 3 hours at all. A chore no doubt but still not terrible. Did you use MAP gas?

 

I'm just using a Harbor Freight propane torch. I do have an oxy/acetylene torch I could try today on the other LCA. Every video I find on YouTube they aren't re-using the sleeve so they're pressing out the complete bushing including the outer sleeve. The only thing I found was one guy drilled through the rubber with a 1/4" bit all the way around between the inner and outer sleeves then must have melted the rest out. He didn't show the rest of what he did. I finished them off with flapper wheels after burning and scraping most of the rubber out.

 

Sounds like you should've just sprung for OEM replacements instead

 

Get it hot and the inner sleeve will slip out. Then a wire brush will peel the last layer of rubber off easy. And stand on the upwind side so you don’t breath the smoke.

 

Apparently nothing constructive or helpful to add, but thanks for the input. I figured it out and got it done. If you're talking about the control arms, why would I buy OEM replacements when all I needed was new bushings.

 

I finally found Energy Suspension's video on Tacoma bushing replacements. Damn I wish I had found that before yesterday, way easier! They should put a link to that video in the instructions, or at least make it easier to find on their site.

 

Was talking about OEM bushings. They'll ride better, be much quieter, and not have you dicking around with torches burning rubber all day.

But you do you sir

 

I'm biased, but I did this with the poly bushings and did a vid series on it b/c there wasn't good info at the time.

https://youtu.be/kNWRDZ3l7Xw for part 3 LCA

 

I did do me, and it worked out just fine. I can definitely tell the difference between these and the OEM rubber bushings but I'm fine with it. This isn't my daily driver, it's my hunting and running around up in the hills rig. Thanks.

 

I used heat to remove the inner sleeve, and again to remove the outer sleeve. I popped the washers off with a pickle fork. Thanks for posting!

 

The ride is more responsive, a little harsher than rubber bushings. But hey, that’s what ES advertises them as and for right? No regrets here 3 years in on my using them.

FWIW, it’s always a good idea to study here a little before pulling the trigger on your truck work. Assuming you have the benefit of time to do so. Someone has always already done it 99 out of a 100 times.

 

So far I do like them but it sure would be nice if they were greaseable. Good advice, thanks!