I'm rebuilding the suspension on an '89 CRX HF, and have decided to go with the original, rubber upper control arm bushings. The factory service manual is vague on this procedure:

"5. Place each upper arm anchor bolt in a vice and drive out the upper arm bushings.

6. Drive in the new upper arm bushings into the upper arm anchor bolts."

Not very much guidance for this admitted non-pro mechanic.

Given this, what is the best way to "drive out" the old, rubber bushing and bushing shell, and more importantly, which is the best method for driving in the new Honda upper arm bushing?

T.I.A.

dg69

 

I believe replacement upper control arms come with new bushings, that is the easiest way to go but not that cheap. If you want to replace the bushings, you have to have access to a hydraulic press to press them out, sometimes they are rusted in so you have to use heat and chisel them out. My advice would to procure new upper control arms are used set (not that expensive).

 

I seemed to relish the thought of rebuilding my old UCA's and bought a ball joint press to successfully press out the old ball joints, however, I subsequently found a pair of Moog UCA's on Amazon.com for 84 bucks each by virtue of a pair of 20 buck certificates I had, which if you consider that the replacement upper ball joint is 50 bucks, is definitely the way to go...now to find a good pair of LCA's! Thanks for your reply.