-Well, I just ordered new Prothane lower control arm bushings for my SXT. The lower vertical bushings are bad enough you can grab the control arm and move it up and down about a 1/2". Not quite a good thing. It looks my day off next week will be spent in the garage. Any tips from anyone who has already done this? My Dad aready has every tool imaginable. When I was first born he was the head mechanic at a local dealership. And the entire time I was growing up, he was building custom dune buggies, choppers, and the infamous '70s vans. I should have the bushings Tuesday or Wednesday. So like I said, any tips you guys might have are welcome.

L8R,
Matt

 

Get a prybar.

 

-A pry bar and a BFG. Big friggin' hammer, right?!?

L8R,
Matt

 

It sure wouldn't hurt to keep one on hand. Check your ball joints and tie rod ends for wear too. May as well only tear it apart and get it realigned once.

 

-I just had my tires rotated again today. The guy at the shop went to school with me. He had me under the lift. Tie rods and ball joints are still nice and tight. All that's wrong are the stinking control arm bushings. Of course, the hardest ones to change. I was hoping for sway arms at the most. Oh well, just my luck. Now as soon as the engine completely cools down, time to toss those Champion plugs and throw in the NGK G-Powers I just picked up. I gave them an honest chance, but I just don't like Champion. Never have....

L8R,
Matt

 

graphite grease em when they are right outta package.
thees bushings tend to "squeak" and once they are installed you cant see enough of em to cure the squeaking

 

-Yeah, I heard that you have to grease the crap out of these things. But I figured I might as well go urethane instead of stock rubber so I don't have to do it again later down the road. The package has those four little blisters of grease which I doubt will be near enough...

L8R,
Matt

 

I just put a nice coat of the stuff that comes with the bushings on 'em, and I haven't heard a peep out of them?

 

-Well, I got them in the mail today. Ordered them later Sunday night and showed up about noon today. Not bad. Now all I have to do is wait until after Thanksgiving for my day off to get them changed. I got mine from Prothane Suspension Parts. With shipping I spent $42.73. Saved about $8 over Modern Performance. About a week and a half and I should be set.

L8R,
Matt

 

-Got her done today. Took me about 3 1/2 hrs to do but she's buttoned back up and on the road. Now I just have to get the alignment checked, but I have to wait until Saturday due to my work schedule. It sure does feel a lot tighter in the turns now. Also all of that clunking is all gone. Now I have to get a new lower motor mount. When I pulled it to get the passenger's side control arm off, I could see the rubber isolator was giving way. Might as well do top and bottom while I'm at it. At least that will be a whole lot easier job than the bushings. Glad I went with urethane so I won't have to face that one again. I also saw that Prothane has inserts that you place inside the rubber mounts, but those are $26 for two inserts. I might just get a tube of sealer or something to fill in the voids in the new mounts. Make it a little bit more solid, but not where it will cause a bunch of vibration. Then in the spring it will be time for a radiator flush, new belt, thermostat and hoses, and new timing belt...

L8R,
Matt