For those with aluminum uprights: Lower Control Arm Question
 

My lower front straight arm came out with the sleeve on it. It cannot clear the upright with the sleeve on it. I cannot for the life of me undo the sleeve from the arm - any suggestions beside pulling the whole upright off the car (don't have 17mm allen to remove).

Soak it in PB blaster, and wait. Try a few times. Get a Fork, and a bearng puller.
 

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/6784/nitronicbush.jpg"></center><p>You can rent them for free at auto parts stores.
You will spend much time.

Keep at it. Maybe there is a market for these things? though the investment to make some and hold on to them is too much.

Good luck

Tried all of those for hours :-( Even heated it up real good and messed up other control arm boot
 

Which was new :(

Going to try and modify a mitsubishi tie rod end boot for that other one (lower curved). I had a similar thing happen with that arm, but there's plenty of clearance to get the arm off the car and deal with it at least. Damn aluminum uprights! You don't have a lead on those bushings do you? It would be priceless! Mine are going to be quite bashed up.

not in any short time.
 

In the mean time..
Try not damaging those bushings you have too badly.

Ive got a good source on control arms if you need.
Might be a good time to replace your 4 lower ones.

Soak ( submerge ) the parts in Penetrating oil.
Use a 3 fingered puller, in addition, apply heat to the sleeve. Dont use a sissy ass flame.

A butane or mapp gas on full tilt, heat the bushing on the cylinder quickly. Best place would be about .125 to .25 inches under the shoulder. This is the thinest section and you will see the greatest thermal expansion for given time.

The idea is to heat the bushing fast enough so that it expands faster than it can loose heat through its contact with the arm. keep trying, if you still cant get it, cut the arm apart, and wrap a cold wet rag around the ball ( you will hack the joint to expose this ).

Also a few heat cycles, will help too, keep with the oil, and have a fire extinguisher handy. All while the bearing puller is under tension.

those damn sleeves. I had this happen to me before. Had to bang it back in
 

and use a ball joint seperator in order for the sleeve to stay in the upright.

Thanks, I've most certainly mangled them pretty good - I'll definetly need new ones
 

I've actually replaced all lower arms except one (in the past 5k miles). Looks like I torched the lower curved arm though :(

I'm going to try and modify a boot to fit on it so I don't have to replace the whole arm, and I have a new front lower (from vast). I just need to watch out for the CV boot really now. Going to take it to a shop and work it either tomorrow or Friday-that boots not coming until Friday so we'll see. I've been bathing it all in PB too.

Do you have a way of getting more of those bushings for the future? Thanks a million - I don't think too many people understand how frustrating this is.

Steve

Got a ball joint separator but it doesn't fit around the ball joint :-(