URGENT: Lower Control Arm Bent??

[stever1000]

I removed my passenger lower control arm today to press out the bushings. The bushings were a huge pain, even using heat/torch and the bottle jack as many people have had success with.

Both bushings didn't budge so I added more heat to the area outside the bushing sleeve. I got one of the bushings out eventually, but the other one is still seized. I tapped the metal of the control arm to try to help break it free...

See pictures below... is this arm scrap now? I don't have a hydraulic press, and even if I did I don't know if it would go back to its original shape (and geometry)?

Help!

 

[kolelt]

How did you manage that ? Damn I'm sorry man. Just order a new one ? I think they run for about $160-180 ish.

 

[stever1000]

To be honest I have no idea... I guess the heat weakened the arm and the bottle jack deformed it...
I'm looking for new arms but the OEM ones are $235 here and I just bought the bushings and ball joints... bummer

 

[Sears&Roebuck]

would replacing the truck fix the problem?

 

[tvpierce]

Wow, that's something!

The good news is ,that barring a catastrophic event, the LCA on these vehicles don't fail. So you could get a used one from a junker/part-out and be confident that it would be serviceable. You already have the common replacement parts to go into it.

Good luck.

 

[octanejunkie]

Wow, that's something!

The good news is ,that barring a catastrophic event, the LCA on these vehicles don't fail. So you could get a used one from a junker/part-out and be confident that it would be serviceable. You already have the common replacement parts to go into it.

Good luck.

+1

Junkyard or put a WTB ad online/here for one from a part out

 

[audiness]

I have an extra set of OEM Toyota front control arms (used) ,)p.m. me if you need them.

 

[stever1000]

Just to close my thoughts...if I took it to a shop with a press, it is unlikely they could return it back to its original shape, correct?

I wonder if it is no-oem with lower quality steel ?

 

[Mark_BC]

There is a 2001 down at AABC wreckers on Mitchell Island in good condition I took some parts from.

https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rch/ptd/6135945233.html

 

[stever1000]

There is a 2001 down at AABC wreckers on Mitchell Island in good condition I took some parts from.

https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rch/ptd/6135945233.html

Thanks, I saw that one and am waiting until 9am to call when they open

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Just to close my thoughts...if I took it to a shop with a press, it is unlikely they could return it back to its original shape, correct?

I wonder if it is no-oem with lower quality steel ?

When I did my bushings, I watched the LCA bend and immediately stopped doing it that way. I ended up using a large drift pin punch and hammer. Took about 5 minutes for each bushing.

I would not try to bend it back. Plenty of used stuff out there for cheap.

 

[stever1000]

When I did my bushings, I watched the LCA bend and immediately stopped doing it that way. I ended up using a large drift pin punch and hammer. Took about 5 minutes for each bushing.

I would not try to bend it back. Plenty of used stuff out there for cheap.

Dang, I guess I need more lights because I couldn't tell it was bending...

How seized were your sleeves? I can't see the drift pin working on mine since the bottle jack couldn't press them out?
That may certainly be worth the try though!

 

[JayRolla]

When I did my bushings, I watched the LCA bend and immediately stopped doing it that way. I ended up using a large drift pin punch and hammer. Took about 5 minutes for each bushing.

I would not try to bend it back. Plenty of used stuff out there for cheap.

Ive been fighting a pull to the left since I did my bushings, alignments are all perfect.

I did the LCA press technique also. Wonder if I bent one or both. Now I want to go measure.

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

has anyone successfully used the tool below (or something similar) to remove and install the LCA bushings?

https://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Servi...&qid=1495135809&sr=8-3&keywords=bushing+press

 

[A.Wilson013]

I used the jack method on my LCA bushings (on one side) and my new whiteline bushings on that side were shot within a few months.

The other side I had a shop press them out. No issues there.

I replaced both arms with new OEM arms and should have done that in the first place.

 

[kolelt]

I used the jack method on my LCA bushings (on one side) and my new whiteline bushings on that side were shot within a few months.

The other side I had a shop press them out. No issues there.

I replaced both arms with new OEM arms and should have done that in the first place.

Why would the jack method have anything to do with why your white line bushings got messed up vs using a press ? Just curious.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Why would the jack method have anything to do with why your white line bushings got messed up vs using a press ? Just curious.

I didn't say it caused anything, I just said that the bushing on the side I used that method on were shot, and the others were not. It could have been purely coincidental. Or, perhaps I bent the LCA a bit? Obviously not as much as the OP considering mine were still able to be installed.

Who knows.

Long story short, replace the full LCA and save yourself all this BS.

 

[kolelt]

I didn't say it caused anything, I just said that the bushing on the side I used that method on were shot, and the others were not. It could have been purely coincidental. Or, perhaps I bent the LCA a bit? Obviously not as much as the OP considering mine were still able to be installed.

Who knows.

Long story short, replace the full LCA and save yourself all this BS.

Yeah haha. The new LCA come with bushings correct ? I did the jack method also and they poped out. Few popped out of the sleeve but I cut the sleeve out after. Control arms went back in place without issues.

 

[nevada]

so let me see if I have this right. you guys are using a bottle jack between the bushings to push them out?

honestly, I would be surprised it they didn't bend. that's a serious NO NO way of doing things. especially with that design of arm.

each side of the arm/bushing needs supported against whatever is being used to press the bushing out. that way all the pressure is on that one end, and not trying to force the ends away from each other.

 

[frodiesel]

Guess i didnt realize how easy the stock arms could bend

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