Hey,

car: 2000 pontiac sunfire, 2.2L
Problem: Front lower control arm bushing is torn.

There are two bushings on the LCA, front bushing (cylindrical one) and rear bushing (puck shaped one). I am going to be replacing the rear bushing on the front control arms. (both sides).
Any insight or recomendations? I already have the bushings. I am new to this platform, used to RWD setups.

Thanks!
- Adam

Check out this and this.

And you can get polyurethane bushings cheap and fast from Karo.

Hey thanks for the reply.

Wow, all the front bushings in polyurethane for $35usd when I spent $15 (cdn) each for the two "puck" ones. Heh, ohwell, this is just a daily driver not a race car...If only they were that cheap for my other car, $900+usd for the full kit (front to rear)

So do the stock ones need to be done on a press? Or can I manage without one? Thanks.

Do yourself a favor and go buy two used lower a arms. Should be able to find them for around 30 a piece. if the bushings in yours are bad chances are the balljoints are junk too.


01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e

Ball joints are fine.

Just those two bushings. GM really wasn't thinking very hard when they engineered this vehicle...so many bolts and parts interfere with one another. Have to take idler arm off to get the one lower control arm bolt out. Have to cut out part of the plastic wheel well lining to get to the one bolt on the idler arm. Ohwell.

Just need to break the taper on the ball joints loose now.

I'm sure the OEM replacements need a press as well... Then again, we are talking about GM

if I were you, since you have them out already, I'd change out the balljoints. They may be fine now, but changing them out now allows you to convert from the riveted style that GM used to the nut/bolt style you have to replace them with. This will allow much easier replacing later down the line if need be. For example, you wouldn't have to take the whole control arm off to remove the ball joint.

I did them in a 96 Grand Am, just took a chissel knocked out the old one. Then oiled up the new one a just taped it in with a hammer.

You said that you had to take off the idler arm. Are you sure that your working on the sunfire? It doesnt have one. You have fun working on what ever it is that your working on.


01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e

Heh, yea I don't know why I thought it was an idler arm! I was up at 7:30am doing it, it was actually one of the engine mounts! (passenger side). And then on the driver side it is some sort of brace.

Hack saw worked wonders to get the old metal sleeve from the original bushings out. And they do appear that they need to be pressed in, I will do that tomorrow...

heat the old ones up and melt them out...clean it up and pressin new bushings



MY 2003 SUNFIRE 15.33@88.5mph

"A N/A ecotec is not gonna give Honda's and Mitsu's that much of a run for their
money unless their blown or bottle fed.GM is still smokin crack!"
~1QWKZ24
www.streetracing.org, 08/2001

I've used large c-clamps and sockets to do them in the past and have used presses too. Much easier using the press, but can be done with a c-clamp. About a year and a half ago some one had a thread about ding them with a c-clamp and some good pics. Search the Suspension and Brakes forum for more info.