Bushing install help

[wootwoot]

I am installing the whiteline front control are bushings (both front and rear) as well as the whiteline rear camber correction bushings. I have many questions.... So hopefully you all can help.

1. I know I will need a ball joint puller so I can remove the front control arm from the car. Can anyone provide a link to a ball joint puller that they know will work? I don't want to end up with something that won't get the job done.

1b. Can I reinstall the old ball joint? And do you use the ball joint puller to reinstall? Or is there another tool for this job?

2 Can the old bushings be pressed out? Or do you have to use an air hammer?

3. If I use a tourch to burn the bushing out is there a possibility I will mess up the paint and/or heat treatment of the arm in the process?

4. Is pressing the new bushings in an easy process so long as I have a press to do it?

5. Any advice before I embark on this epic journey?

[whataboutbob]

1/1b. Pull the pin out of the crown nut. Remove the crown nut. At this point you can get a tool to press the tapered bolt out of the steering knuckle (or use a large 5lb hammer to smack the side of the knuckle and it may fall out). I don't think you need to replace the ball joint.

2. I used a press to remove the old bushings. I know at least the front bushings had metal sleeves that are part of the bushing and will need to be removed.

3. I wouldn't burn them out, press them out.

4. Yes. Take your time and get everything STRAIGHT. If something starts to be crooked, stop, back up, and get it straight.

5. Take your time and don't make any hasty decisions. If you feel like you are in over your head don't rush and seek help if you need it.

[wootwoot]

Is there any concern with bending the control arms when pressing the bushings in/out?

[whataboutbob]

I had a buddy help me with the pressing stuff. We had 2 pieces of pipe to use with the press. 1 to brace the control arm, and another that was matched to the bushings we were working with. The second piece was used as an extension to the press to load the bushing we were working with. We had a cut of thick pipe that was matched to be just larger than the OD (outside diameter) of the metal sleeve that I was talking about that we used with the press when removing the bushings that we used to brace the control arm. We just went slow when pressing the old ones out and made sure to find a new matched pipe for the new bushings when pressing the new ones in. If you are doing it right there shouldn't be a lot of bending/twisting during the pressing operations. My OEM bushings made a popping sound a bit when we finally moved them all of the way out.