Upper control arm bushing replacement??

[lovedavdubs]

Anybody ever change an upper control arm bushing. I suspect that mine are bad, (Squeaking when I hit bumps and dips in the road). What's involved in replacing these bushings? Special tools, etc. I have installed new ball joints top and bottom just to rule them out.
Thanx

[mightyart]

have you checked the tie rods not the ball and socket at the end(tie rod ends), but the ball and socket under the bellows boots on the steering rack?
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My Art:
http://www.instagram.com/flynn8552/

[lovedavdubs]

I didn't check that. I had a friend stand on the doorsill and rock the van up and down while I listened and felt around. The rickety squeaking noise (Old door in a haunted house), sounded and felt like it was coming from the upper control arm. I could actually feel it. However, I have decided to refresh the entire front end and am waiting for the tierod end to be delivered. I guess I will order the actual tierod also.

[Captain Pike]

I got froggy and relpaced all my front end shit ,upper control arms inc. a welder is helpful but not necessary. I noticed the change immediatly but then needed to get the front end realigned due to the new parts. I think it well worth doing just on the saftey side alone.
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LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
....Bad Sneakers....

[buspor63]

If the uppers are bad, you can see movement when you rock the tire @12 and 6 oclock back and forth. They take a grinding disk to remove and a MIG is nice to tack weld them back in. Also, I had to make my own tool to fit in the allen head bolt. It was no more than a 17mm nut welded to a 17mm bolt. That fits in the tight space that a allen wrench or allen/socket combo are too big for.

[mr_vanagon]

Just changed mine last week. Not a big deal but a machine shop is needed to press out the old bushings and press in the new. A local shop did mine and tack welded the new ones. Charged me like $25 for the entire operation. I found a 14 MM allen socket that fit. you really just need a way to hold the head of the bolt while you remove the nut. Torque isn't big either (54 ft/lbs I think). Be sure to mark the bolt before you take it out. Alignment will be needed as that's how you change the camber. If those bushings are your problem it really is an easy fix.

[Ericthenorse]

DUDE... if you are using a grinder and a welder to do the bushings on yer van, Don't drive it.... have someone do it right... PRESS OUT, PRESS IN... If you need a welder to keep them in, you need a new controol arm...
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'69 bug--rusty as hell
'91 vanagon carrat-slammed,5 speed,4 wheel disks,17x8.5's

[Captain Pike]

bushings are spot welded at the FACTORY, you must grind off the spot welds to remove them, then press them out. A pro job presses the new bushings in(no hammer!) and spot welds them to return it to FACTORY condition (I've done over 10 of these in shop situations) At 25$ per bushing it is important to DO IT RIGHT. all other components set from the bushing alignment
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
....Bad Sneakers....

[Ericthenorse]

glad to know... I have all my parts for the front rebuild, now I just need the time.. and aparently I need to go get my MIG back from my brother...
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'69 bug--rusty as hell
'91 vanagon carrat-slammed,5 speed,4 wheel disks,17x8.5's

[Captain Pike]

Be very careful not to get the bearing too hot when welding or all the plastic will melt out
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
....Bad Sneakers....

[Alan Brase]

I've done several Vanagon uppers (and DOZENS of US cars') bushings and never welded them. Oldest one 11 years ago- still driving it. Never a failure.
Might be a good idea to look very closely at the LOWERS for rust build up on the inside of the bushing. Rust scale will wear out the rubber. I've only changed one set, but it changed the caster enough to make that car drive right.
Industry sources quote 4.5 hrs per side. My first run was about 1.5 per side. With no lift. With practice and better fixtures I think I could get it a bit better!
Al

[Mellow Yellow 74]

Resurrecting an old thread but I have just read all the upper control arm bushing threads and thought it was worth clarifying about tack welding the new bushings in.

The 2WD upper control arms (aka wishbones) are a pressed sheet metal design and the bushing fits between two flanges formed in the sheet metal. The Syncro upper control arms are a cast design (which is stronger) and the bushing fits onto a solid bore in the arm.

The Syncro design gives enough friction to hold the bushing firmly in place without the need for a weld. The 2WD design doesn't provide the same resistance to movement of the bushing which is why the bushing needs to have the tack weld. This is for the OEM style bushings and apparently the tack welds are not required with the Powerflex or Gowesty style bushings for either the Syncro or 2WD (provided the holes in the arm where the bushings sit are not corroded).

The different design of control arms also explains why shims may be required for the Syncro arms but not the 2WD arms. If there is a gap between the arm and the bushing on the 2WD arms, the sheet metal flanges can be spread or compressed as required so no shim is necessary. The Syncro arms cannot be adjusted so the shims are required instead.
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1962 Karmann Ghia
1974 Deluxe Microbus
1985 Caravelle (Vanagon)

[?Waldo?]

If memory serves, the Powerflex instructions recommend a tack weld for the 2WD UCA bushing outer sleeve.

[Alan Brase]

[Christopher Schimke]

[Mellow Yellow 74]

[surfwagonorangevw]

Christopher Schimke wrote:
...if the arm has been abused during past bushing installations...


Like this?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NERyFBOkIY4
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hahaha , looks like someone I know , well they WERE tight !

this is a job I have to do ,so conducting useful research , gotta luv it .

[Alan Brase]

Brickworks must not worry about its workers having hearing loss. HUH? HUH?
_________________
Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home

[Jake de Villiers]

[mapleguy]

Just replaced the upper control arm bushings but don't have the torque spec on the spindle bolt/pivot bolt - any help? Saw a thread for 54 ft/lbs they thought but wanted to be sure.