Upper control arm bushing and PST, what should I remove

[Robliepse]

In the process of installing my new PST poly upper control arm bushings and I need to make sure I get this right. The new bushings came with the outer steel sleeves but I never removed the original outer sleeves from my control arms. I actually thought the outer sleeves were part of the upper control arms. My gut instinct tells me to use the original sleeves that are already on the arms because they have been there for 42 years, are solid and secure and I'm not sure how well the new ones will fit after the original ones are removed. I just talked to P-S-T and they say I can simply remove the bushing from their sleeve and use the originals or remove the originals and install the new sleeves.

I'd be interested in hearing what others have experienced .

 

[Dako]

The outer steel sleeve is manufactured with the bushing. You will likely damage the rubber part, either trying to get the new sleeve off, or attempting to get the 'inner' portion into the old sleeve.

The old 'outer' can either be pressed out or chiseled out. A pneumatic chisel works great...just fold it in on itself.

 

[Robliepse]

Thanks Dako, however I'm still confused. I thought I did remove all of the original busing and whats remaining is part of the arm its self. The sleeve in question is somewhat centered in the hole of the arm and that's what controls the front to rear position of the arm relative to the frame and the bushing. If i rip it out as you suggest it will leave a hole no thicker than the steel that the frame is stamped from and there will be no front to rear reference for the new busing. The outer sleeve of the new PST busing is not tapered in any way and the way I see it this could result in up to a 1" or 2" tolerance on the front to back position of the arm. Once I rip the metal out of the arm it's a one way street.

 

[Dako]

If you look closely at the control arm, you will see there is a flat shoulder that is about a quarter inch out on the outer side...that is the same flat shoulder on the bushing. The hole in the control arm is rolled to the outside, providing about a 1/4 inch of a 'sleeve like' surface contact. That's all the contact surface there is. Take a micrometer to this portion and compare it to the portion on the inside of the control arm and you will see it is larger on the outside. Here is a link to some replacing them on a Chevy pickup. Look closely around the 3 1/2 minute mark to 4 minute mark & you will notice the same shoulder/ contact are I mentioned. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryydvDQkvMc

 

[Robliepse]

thanks, I figured it out. all is good