1quickTransAm

iTrader: (4)

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?

Sickness7

How did you manage that. I can't think of the name of it but there is a type of clamp you can insert inside and turn to expand it. As long as the material doesn't weaken when you do so.

1quickTransAm

iTrader: (4)

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.

sleepinghawk

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.........

1quickTransAm

iTrader: (4)

Where did you find one for that price?

sleepinghawk

I been replacing suspension parts for my hawk and my 95 lincoln over the past 3 months and I have saved alot with them. They had everything for my lincoln and shipping was fast.PM sent

79chevy39.5's

still no location where your getting from

Fry_

I'd bet RockAuto.

sleepinghawk

N20zuki

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.

mab6680

iTrader: (1)

just ordered the right and left side for my 97 complete with bushings and ball joints for 40 bucks a piece from rockauto

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

To the OP, just bend it back, you'll be fine......

1quickTransAm

iTrader: (4)

^ that's what I ended up doing. Seems fine enough.

Darth Cypher

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?

klinznilk

iTrader: (8)

I have my old factory ones that i just took off if need be. ONly 67K miles on them

joeformula

iTrader: (11)

Bend it back you'll be fine. The only way it would have been "iffy" is if the metal bent passed a point where it was stretched.

Darth Cypher

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.