IRS - time to R/R upper and lower control arms?

ronwest · 01-05-2011, 10:47 AM

Had a wheel alignment done prior to our trip away next week and the guy showed me that the rear lower control arm bushes are worn. Looking in Gregory's it looks a fairly straightforward job (I realise I'll have to get the bushes pressed out/in somewhere) but has anyone who has done it give me an approximate time per side?

edit: I'll replace all (12?) lower and upper bushes while I've got them out.

Reaper8 · 01-05-2011, 03:13 PM

buy a press from supercheap for $80 and press the bushes yourself and save a bit off coin. I did for my front and worked a treat took more time to get the arms off than it did to press the bush's.

ronwest · 02-05-2011, 06:52 PM

Thanks Reaper. I've got a 6 tonne press but it wouldn't shift the lower outer "bushes".

As a bit of general info, the lower outer "bushes" aren't bushes. They are "spherical joints". Who'd have thought it...
According to Pedders website they do an aftermarket lower outer.

Anyhoo, about three hours to remove both sides rear upper and lower control arms.

The inner bushes in mine are all ok, so just the upper outer bush and the lower spherical joint at Pedders tommorow.

I'll report back with pricing.

SLO AU XR8 · 02-05-2011, 09:54 PM

To remove the Upper control arms, the IRS subframe has to be removed from the car. This is not a fun job to do without a hoist!

ronwest · 02-05-2011, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLO AU XR8

To remove the Upper control arms, the IRS subframe has to be removed from the car.

That's incorrect.

Both my upper and lower control arms are sitting on the ground and the subframe is still attached.

It was no fun, but my son-in-law helped with the uppers. They took 30-40 minutes per side (without a hoist).

Reaper8 · 03-05-2011, 08:34 AM

and i was thinkin that since i did the front i may as well do the rear. If its that much FUN i might wait till i have to do them not may as well do them

ronwest · 03-05-2011, 09:14 AM

Prices as follows:-

Pedders - $65 + $25 per bush for pressing. So for me it will be $360 for the four bushes.

Ford - $151 + press for lower bush. Upper outer is now obsolete (from Ford).

SLO AU XR8 · 03-05-2011, 07:53 PM

I have the last set of upper outers in my XR8..... I had the subframe out of my car re bushing the whole thing, so I did inner and outers + Diff bushes, as well as replacing Toe links.

ronwest · 04-05-2011, 08:53 PM

To finalise:-

With diesel fitter son-in-law it took about an hour and a half to get the bits back in. He did the crawling around under the car bit; I did the playing with the grand daughter bit, lol...

Pedders Parts #'s:

402002 - Control Arm Pivot Joint Lower $64.00ea
402001 - Control Arm Pivot Joint Upper $64.00ea
Fitting (press) - $25.00 per unit.

Note The upper Pivot Joint is not Ford specific. It is 4mm shorter than the original but Pedders supply a spacer to fill the gap.