Upper Control Arm...oops
Upper Control Arm...oops 
I am replacing all my bushings and when pressing the old bushing out of the front upper control arm, the wall bent in like shown above. Should I have put a spacer of some sort in Btwn the walls to hold the spacing? I am guessing there is a special tool for that?
Do you think I can just bend it back or am I F*ed and need a new one?
I was using an arbor press with ball joint press adapters and the one wall bent with the bushing housing rather than letting it slide. On the other arms I have been sticking a spacer in to stop it from crushing which was worked well so I'll do the same when pressing the new bushings in.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 1
From: Fredericksburg Va
If it was me, I would just replace it since they don't cost much anyway. I just priced 1 complete with ball-joint and bushings for less than $40. Add shipping and mine is still under $50. Or you can bend it back and.........
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TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 856
Likes: 2
From: Elizabeth City NC
Yea your suppose to put something in the gap when using a press. You can try to bend it back into shape and install bushings. Its common this happens as shops don't use something between the gap in the control arm, Its only made of stamp steel so its pliable without the bushing body to stiffen it.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
I ran into this issues as well when I pressed out the old bushings on my upper control arms. I put a nut in the gap and it held for the most part but there is still some deformation. I'll try to bend it back but there is no way it will be perfect. Will this cause an issue? I know this thread is over a year old but if the OP sees this, were there any issues since you bent it back?
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
The bends are not as bad as the pics in the OP. Also, there were slight bends on the arm everywhere. I am the original owner and this is the first time every changing the bushing or tearing down the suspension. I guess these arms were not all that perfect to begin with. I'm guessing these arms see a little bending at manufacture? 
Anyhow, thanks for the replies. I'll just bend back as best as I can, knock the rust off, paint and then proceed with the project.
Anyhow, thanks for the replies. I'll just bend back as best as I can, knock the rust off, paint and then proceed with the project.