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Topic: 88 XR-7 front control arm bushings (Read 934 times) previous topic - next topic

88 XR-7 front control arm bushings

I am going to be removing my control arms to change the bushings, if all goes well.  How easy are these to remove?  I see they sell the bushings without the sleeves that are poly and stock replacements with the sleeves already installed. 

Is this one of those control arms where the easiest replacement is to heat up the rubber and knock them out of the sleeves and replace them with poly OR are they easy enough to press out sleeve and all?

Is there any binding or noise with poly bushings in front control arms?

 I have a combination of Prothane and Energy Suspension going throughout the frontend already and tend to like the material of the Prothane, myself.

Thanks!
Tim

88 XR-7 front control arm bushings

Reply #1 –
I wanted OE quality and bought MOOG bushings from Advanced Auto.  I then had a machine shop press out the old and install the new for $30 total.

88 XR-7 front control arm bushings

Reply #2 –
Knocking the old rubber out is a PITA....when I replaced mine with poly, I simply threw mine in my woodstove for about 20 minutes, burned them out.

Then I cleaned them up with a wire wheel, took them to my work and sandblasted them, painted them black, and installed the Energy Suspension poly pieces.

Of course, if you want any semblance of a comfortable ride, I'd recommend replacing them with OE-style bushings....but I wanted something that would corner on a dime and give me 7 cents back....
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)
 

88 XR-7 front control arm bushings

Reply #3 –
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;412979
Knocking the old rubber out is a PITA....when I replaced mine with poly, I simply threw mine in my woodstove for about 20 minutes, burned them out.

Then I cleaned them up with a wire wheel, took them to my work and sandblasted them, painted them black, and installed the Energy Suspension poly pieces.

Of course, if you want any semblance of a comfortable ride, I'd recommend replacing them with OE-style bushings....but I wanted something that would corner on a dime and give me 7 cents back....

 
Thats good to know about the ride quality.  Thanks for the info and Kafer79, I will probably do the same thing you did!