Write-Up: 1996-1997 Front Control Arm/Bushing Replacement

Regarding the Front Control Arms for a 1997 Riv, this Write Up has some excellent pictures of the 97 and an alternative bushing that was used with some machining to fix his front end.
Y'all have probably already seen this but I just thought I would bring it back up since there has been some talk of the 97 being the oddball year.
Go to Arttu80's info.

deekster_caddy wrote:

Hi,

You can get the bushings, they come as part of the complete lower control arm assembly, which gives you all new bushings and ball joints. Don't know if you can get them from a GM dealer in Finland, they are pretty easy to get in the US and although they are a little more expensive than buying the bushings/ball joint separately, they are easy to put in since the assembly is already done.

Anyone know where such a beast exists?

BMD wrote:

deekster_caddy wrote:

Hi,

You can get the bushings, they come as part of the complete lower control arm assembly, which gives you all new bushings and ball joints. Don't know if you can get them from a GM dealer in Finland, they are pretty easy to get in the US and although they are a little more expensive than buying the bushings/ball joint separately, they are easy to put in since the assembly is already done.

Anyone know where such a beast exists?

I got mine from monsterpartsonline.com. They were for a '98, not sure how availability is for other years. You should be able to call a dealer and get a part number if they still exist.

Thanks Derek. I've been checking out sites trying to locate a pre-assembled control arm for my '96 with no luck, which means that when I do decide to replace the ball joints, I will probably be dropping the control arm to grind the rivets off and to replace the bushings. So my question now is, how hard is it to press in the new bushings once the old ones are out?

BMD wrote:

Thanks Derek. I've been checking out sites trying to locate a pre-assembled control arm for my '96 with no luck, which means that when I do decide to replace the ball joints, I will probably be dropping the control arm to grind the rivets off and to replace the bushings. So my question now is, how hard is it to press in the new bushings once the old ones are out?

With a hydraulic press that some Parts stores still have, very easy.

Are the bushings available for your year, I thought they had to be custom made, or I could be way off base, IDK. You should use a press to remove and install so as not to deform the control arm.

OK, thanks Rick, and yes, the bushings are available for 96 models.

BMD wrote:

Thanks Derek. I've been checking out sites trying to locate a pre-assembled control arm for my '96 with no luck, which means that when I do decide to replace the ball joints, I will probably be dropping the control arm to grind the rivets off and to replace the bushings. So my question now is, how hard is it to press in the new bushings once the old ones are out?

the bushings on the steel arm are very difficult to replace. at the factory the rubber bushing is cylindrically compressed and then inserted into the arm and then allowed to expand. to get them out is a piece of cake. i just heated up the arm and when it got hot ,gripped the inner sleeve bonded to the rubber bushing and twisted the bushing out. replacing the bushing i had to get a 8" long grade8 bolt and nut. position the VERY lubed bushing onto the arm,put the bolt through the bushing and out the other side of the arm housing.now thread the nut onto the bolt,before hand ,have a good selection of big washers of various diameters that you will have to install on either side of the housing,and start impacting the bushing into the arm. the bushing will start to compress,at this point you have to back off and start over. and in this way you will incrementally pull the bushing into position.PIA. or you can take it to a shop and watch the mechanics scratch their heads for days wondering how its done. or you can find someone who has done them before and take it to them. i took mine to a local mechanic who complained how impossible it was for him a 2 guys to install them. the problem is that the bushing keeps squishing in the press,you have to have a way to compress the bushing. at that point i just figured out how it should be done. and i did it. i guess the best illustration is ,if you recall, is one of those push pops. the ones where you push on the stick to make the pop come out the top. hope that helps.

Thanks for that robo, I forgot that 95-96 had steel arms. But why do you say to back off and start over? Also, I found this video showing a bushing removal process. Is your idea kinda like it?.....