PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: Jdm071755 on October 28, 2017, 10:22:06 AM
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I just notice my upper control arm bushings are dry and cracked. I have never done this job before. Is it a pain or take it to the shop
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Without the proper tools it would be VERY hard to do. I've known people that burned them out but what a mess. A good automotive shop can do it really fast. Try to clean them up first.
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Without the proper tools it would be VERY hard to do. I've known people that burned them out but what a mess. A good automotive shop can do it really fast. Try to clean them up first.
Sounds good Thanks for the Advise
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If the upper bushings are shot, it's a sure thing the Lower arm bushing and strut rod bushing are hardened to sloppiness. This puts you in the enviable position of rebuilding the entire front end. Without the Press tools to properly remove and replace the pieces, you'll be in for a few days of work and much grief.
I just did my pickup and had to buy a Spring compressor , rent a larger ball joint tool , and buy a control arm bushing tool kit , and fight the bloody lower bushings into the control arm. Mostly because my tool wasn't designed for the lower arm bushing. A local shop wanted $2400 to do the job and wouldn't let me provide the parts to save money. I have time and persistence, so I was also thinking of my Pinto needing all this soon too, when I bought the tools. I'm still going to have to buy the larger bushing tool add on kit for other projects.
I hope the parts are still available for the early pinto, the Moog catalog might not list them anymore.
It's a labor of Love, but still worth it..
Pintosopher :)
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Agree with dick as well
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Agree with dick as well
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I agree with dick too
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In essence, I agree with Dick too. ;) I'm just a stubborn DIYer and don't really care to McGyver things anymore. I'm too old for the Stress and the Impatience of the many. I'm also poor and living on coupons and rebates to pay for My Older cars . Tool makers rule the World, and Keep the Snap on guy in Beer money ;D
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If you can afford Snap On tools your not poor. Harbor Freight is the poor mans tools of today. I've got many tools from them with no problems or failures at all. And best of all, they will give you new ones if you do ever break one, just like Sears.
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BTW! Dave1987 has posted in the past how he and his father built and used those tools to remove and replace all of the front end bushings. He has a zillion posts to look at to find them. Good luck.
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If you can afford Snap On tools your not poor. Harbor Freight is the poor mans tools of today. I've got many tools from them with no problems or failures at all. And best of all, they will give you new ones if you do ever break one, just like Sears.
I was pulling your leg, None of my tools came from Snap On! Even My OTC Spring compressor came from Amazon. Very seldom do I buy a critical steel tool from Harbor. Some of my low pressure tools are cheap China knock offs. I have found that finding the best tool quality at the best possible price is a good philosophy and cheap junk can get you hurt or embarassed :o
We're all looking for Macy's at Kmart pricing.... LOL! ;D
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Ironically I just jot my first intentional Snap On item (see image 1) yesterday at the Mopar Fall Fling in Van Nuys. LOL
I have the Harbor Freight ball joint tool (fore front in second image). I got it years ago when I went to HF to pick up a $3 something. They were having a surprise sale and 30 minutes later I was calling the wife to take the seats out of the van and come on down because I was spending $300 (100 times my original intentions). I live about 10 miles from where HF had their main warehouse and every now and then they would have a "clean out the warehouse" sales. I did the math and concluded that my $300 bought me nearly $2,000 in tools, including the 60 gallon compressor for $80 and the lathe for $100.
HF tools are fine for the casual user. But, I prefer a used, quality tool if I can find it.
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WHAT A DEAL! You'll remember that one till you die. I really hate going to HF because I can't quit buying. A lot of it I can't remember later why I bought it. Saylavee for sure.