Weekend work...lower control arm bushings

[naabnco]

Hi guys! I've got great advice on this forum, so I figured I'd give it another go.

I got new tires on my VX about 2 months ago. 20,000 miles later, the rear ones are completely shredded. My mechanic says the control arm bushings are shot. One trailing arm bushing appears to be new, the other could also be replaced. My question is, can I remove the bushings from the trailing arm and replace them without replacing the entire trailing arm? And if so, do I need fancy tools?

I'm not afraid to tear into it, but I do need this car by next Monday for work. My expertise level is...I've done a few struts and wheel bearings before. But not on Hondas.

 

[stupidhard]

not a big deal really, you can get an extractor press on it with out takin it completely off the car i think. go for the energy suspension replacements, you wont need anything but maybe a big c-clamp to install them. use lots of the supplied grease. i dont have an extractor, i removed the factory bushings on my rear LCAs by burning the rubber out with a torch and cutting the sleeve from the bore with a hack saw. if you do this be carefull not to cut into the bore. after you cut the sleeve spray it with some PB blaster, wait a few min, knock them out with a drift punch and a dead blow hammer.

ill be using the same process for my trailing arms, shouldnt take more than a few hrs.

good luck!
-chris

p.s. i know its not the best way to do this. i dont have access to a press but i am very capable with a few simple tools and some imagination.

 

[VileMisanthropy]

Usually uneven worn tires mean a ball joint needs replacing. And when the control arm bushings go in the front, it makes a horrible creaky crunchy noise under your feet when you steer.

 

[stupidhard]

Usually uneven worn tires mean a ball joint needs replacing. And when the control arm bushings go in the front, it makes a horrible creaky crunchy noise under your feet when you steer.

Im pretty sure he is concerned with the rear end (which have no ball joints) if his rear tires are shreded after only a couple of months. a number of things can cause "uneven" tire wear, determining what type of wear will help determine how to remedy the symptom.

if his rear tires are feathering and starting look like a worn out mud tire then you can bet its a suspension issue... I.E. busted shocks or sagging springs

if the same tires are wearing evenly but at an accelerated rate then that could indicate alignment issues due to damaged bushings.

there are other conditions not related to suspension but directly affected by how the tires are inflated.

just like solving problems on our own vehicles we must pay close attention to what is said in a post before we offer advice.

-chris