Front lower control arm: rear bushing replacement

Jack · 12-10-2020, 07:21 PM

While doing brakes on the front of our 13 Crosstrek, I took a look around and that LCA rear bushing is pretty worn out. Watching the Youtube guy do the job with his $700 Snap On tool looks just ducky. For those of us without any snap on tools besides the 2 screw drivers I found on the street a decade apart, is this a DIY kinda job? What do you use for a press?

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Blktrax · 12-10-2020, 11:28 PM

You really need a shop press and the correct size insert to get the shell out easily. You can do the old fashion burn out the rubber and hack saw the shell, then press in the new bushing.

The new bushing is orientation specific. Rubber casting/injection tits down and the air gap with the 3 ridges inside the shell faces the ball joint.

Or just rockauto some complete arms, usually over 100K the front bushing starts to fail anyway.... and pressing that on anything but a rust free arm usually results in some fun twisting and crunching.

Jack · 12-11-2020, 09:17 AM

Good to know that. Maybe new arms are in order instead. I can certainly remove/install a pair of control arms.

12-10-2020, 07:21 PM	#1
Jack Add Lightness Moderator Member#: 13699 Join Date: Dec 2001 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Hopkinton, MA Vehicle: 2021 Building It Better	Front lower control arm: rear bushing replacement While doing brakes on the front of our 13 Crosstrek, I took a look around and that LCA rear bushing is pretty worn out. Watching the Youtube guy do the job with his $700 Snap On tool looks just ducky. For those of us without any snap on tools besides the 2 screw drivers I found on the street a decade apart, is this a DIY kinda job? What do you use for a press? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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12-10-2020, 11:28 PM	#2
Blktrax Scooby Specialist Member#: 220971 Join Date: Aug 2009 Chapter/Region: South East Location: NC Vehicle: 2004 Impreza	You really need a shop press and the correct size insert to get the shell out easily. You can do the old fashion burn out the rubber and hack saw the shell, then press in the new bushing. The new bushing is orientation specific. Rubber casting/injection tits down and the air gap with the 3 ridges inside the shell faces the ball joint. Or just rockauto some complete arms, usually over 100K the front bushing starts to fail anyway.... and pressing that on anything but a rust free arm usually results in some fun twisting and crunching.

12-11-2020, 09:17 AM	#3
Jack Add Lightness Moderator Member#: 13699 Join Date: Dec 2001 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Hopkinton, MA Vehicle: 2021 Building It Better	Good to know that. Maybe new arms are in order instead. I can certainly remove/install a pair of control arms.