Welp, I’m a f’kin moron.

Man I can only imagine for the youth these days with so much info at their finger tips, but so little experience & instincts to red flag the info that is shit.

 

I tried putting em back in the press to persuade them back into shape. Decide to cut my losses when one shot out and tried to kill me lol. Ordered a set of Duralasts for now just to get back on the road, will build a proper pair when I have time

 

What video was it?
I seen one where they heated the old with a torch and used a bottle jack.
I think it was some young guy and his dad?
Seems like they used a press to get the new in?
I honestly can’t remember?

 

everyone has done that at least a few times, just part of learning and DIY

the important part is you learned from it, and the noble part is you posted about it publicly so the entire community could learn from it. So thank you for that.

When people post there mistakes it always reminds me of a picture an individual posted of what remained of his fingers after trying to lube his motorcycle chain while the bike was running (and i mean, immediately after while he was waiting on an ambulance to arrive). Extremely stupid thing to do and gruesome to see. But i guarantee by posting it that he saved a few people from making the same mistake he did and to to exercise caution when working around chains.

 

Yeah it was a younger guy, maybe with his dad. He did use a torch, which I did too. Maybe not enough heat, maybe my arms were a little older and weaker, idk.

Im sure the technique might work just fine for some, but it’s not a shortcut I ever wanna chance again to save time.

 

Agreed. Ill admit it’s hard to keep your head on straight sometimes, with the pressure and excitement of DIY. Videos can be deceptively convincing. Even at my “ripe old” age of 30, having turned wrenches since I could hold one, it’s all too easy to fall into traps until you’ve learned specific lessons the hard way.

 

This is what I usually do. There's usually a thing or two in each video that makes me think WTF are they doing? but then there's often a nifty little trick buried here and there as well that aren't in the other videos.

I watch a few different ones to really wrap my head around what I'm trying to do so I understand the process and why it's done that way rather than just follow their step by step.

 

You know you're ready when you see one and you're like "I just want to scream at you through my phone." Well, unless it is painfully obvious that they're a moron lol.

 

YouTube mechaniks.....

 

That's probably the most irritating part, the old ones weren't even terrible. I was in a rush to get it ready for an alignment appointment and I wanted to have everything done before then; no point getting it aligned then changing stuff. But the parts I needed took forever to come in and i was super crunched for time, ended up screwing myself and missing the appt anyway.

 

FWIW to anyone else who stumbles across this thread and wants to swap LCA bushings, the bottle jack between the arms is a tried and true method.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...lacement-2005-tacoma-4x4-the-easy-way.437693/

As OP learned though, the most important thing is patience and also recognizing that it may just not work if the bushings are too rusted in there. You've gotta use some judgment as to how much pressure on the bottle jack is too much. It didn't work for me either and I had to burn the bushings out and cut the sleeve out of the arm with a sawzall. 0/10 don't recommend, what a pain.

Sorry that happened to you OP. At least now you've gained some more wrenching experience and can hopefully apply it elsewhere. I know I've had my fair share of fuck ups too.

 

I’ve seen some good instructions on YouTube, then some not so good. I liked it before the pay or watch forced commercials. Then I like the little bit of everything entertainment to be found. The catholic radio bear is from a clash misheard lyrics vid.

I commend you for posting a mistake and definitely wouldn’t disparage. There’s a good long thread on boneheaded moments.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/took-a-second-them-dumb-moments-own-it.715042/

 

FWIW2, I have replaced the bushings in many LCAs. I have a press and all manner of trick specialty tools I can use but the technique I prefer is the use of heat on the eyelets and a bottle jack because, for me at least, it takes the minimal amount of work and creates the least amount of damage. Just go slow and pay attention.

Also for those who state they do not bother to orient the void spaces in the bushings relative to the LCAs, I have found that the life of the bushings is shortened (for the OEM bushings at least) if not oriented as prescribed in the FSM. The honeycombed areas like to crack and break through prematurely, particularly when off roading.

 

This method does work if you're careful, like mentioned before. If the outer shells of the bushings are rusty AF and cooked to the LCA itself, sometimes its better to pop the bushings out minus the shells, then cut two slits in the shells, and remove that way.







These rusty bastards actually cleaned up really well

 

Been there, done that.

 

This method does work, but you have to follow the steps precisely without improvisation. You probably used a regular hammer, gotta use a small camp hatchet instead. You probably also had closed toed shoes on, and for this method to work properly you have to wear a pair of thongs, though some parts require you go go barefoot.

 

@risethewake NM and Not sure your location but here are some in PNW. I'm sure someone near you probably has a set of the OEM ones sitting around if you ask around but with gas costs these days sometimes I just pay for shipping even within 100 miles.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/used-r-l-oem-lower-control-arms-140.740699/

 

Yeah, like I said, i'm sure this technique works for many people. I guess I was just in a hurry and not paying attention to how much pressure i was applying. I figured the rubber would let go before any damage was done, maybe I didn't apply enough heat as well.

Ah well. I tossed some new control arms on and just got aligned today. Man it's nice to finally have a good-feeling truck after the lift install. Now to see how the TC gussets and SPC cams hold up!

 

Thanks man, but Im on the opposite coast, up in NE Maine. lol. Appreciate the reach-out though

 

I have some control arms waiting to be rebuilt.. I was about to follow this same video..