Upper Control Arm Bushings

[Steve Wood]

Got my GN out for the first time in about six months...I guess it has been about that long because the inspection sticker was expired since last September....

I noticed it was trying to change lanes at the top of first gear with a sudden move to the left.  I was trying to remember which control arm to preload when the rear of the car moves to the right when it dawned on me that it has been a long time since I changed the passenger side front upper control arm bushing on this car.  (the rear bushing on the upper front control arm)

Looked at it and sure enough, it was cracked in several places.  Probably take a few more miles before it fell out and the shaft starts to bang around, but, it is cracked enough to affect handling.

Experienced owners probably know to check this periodically as it gets cooked by the downpipe that passes right over it, but, some may not be aware that this is a recurring problem that can adversely affect handling and create a dangerous situation on hard acceleration or braking.

If you have not checked yours recently, it might be a good time to do so.

Some say poly bushings will last longer but I have never liked poly bushings on cars that get driven a lot.  Others have put a solid bushing in, or added a heat shield.  I have just always replaced them with another conventional bushing.  It's not that hard, but, it has been two years since I did the other car so given my foggy memory banks, I guess I will get to figure it out all over again. 

[Scoobum]

One more thing to check on my car this week while I'm off...thanks. Once in 6 months...lay off the Skyrim. You're as bad as Norbs with his damn stocks.

[Steve Wood]

I have been driving the T, it was behind the GN in the shop...Had to move them both to get the Challenger down to start working on it again....

[SuperSix]

Awesome! All the activity in the Woods pole barn has me fired up!

[Scoobum]

I have been driving the T, it was behind the GN in the shop...Had to move them both to get the Challenger down to start working on it again....

Excuses excuses. The GN, 4X4, SS...and the gf's Camaro and Cavalier...are all in the driveway. Should see the jockeying that goes on to get the GN out of the garage.

[Steve Wood]

the jockeying and the gate opening, are too much effort as far as I am concerned..

[Scoobum]

the jockeying and the gate opening, are too much effort as far as I am concerned..

You sand my floor...and I`ll move your cars.

[daveismissing]

the jockeying and the gate opening, are too much effort as far as I am concerned..

Can't you train one of the goats?

[Steve Wood]

I could try....they are all metric tho

[Steve Wood]

the jockeying and the gate opening, are too much effort as far as I am concerned..

You sand my floor...and I`ll move your cars.

go rent the sander and let your girl friend do it

[Scoobum]

Oddly enuf she's offered to put the finish on it.

[WE4_Roller]

The cheesy, made from airbag install,  leftover heat shield has worked well for me,  I get about 75K out of the MOOG problem solver gold annodized rubber bushings on the daily drivers.
That's about 8 years up here in our small state. 

[Charlief1]

Replace the control arm with speedway motors part number 910-34394LH which has a greasable bronze bushing instead of a rubber one.   Get 2 of them and you have better control arms.

[Steve Wood]

Grease?  do we still have to grease cars?

I figure this will be the last Buick arm I shall ever have to do the bushings on so I had already ordered a pair of Moog replacements.

I did try to look up that number to find why I would want to use  LH arm on the right hand side, but, it did not come up as a valid number.  Thought maybe you bought them all to corner the market

[SuperSix]

Grease?  do we still have to grease cars?

No shit. Can't figure out how to seal a ball joint for 100k?

I was fucking with 2 cheap-ass grease guns this weekend. Still couldn't get either to work long enough to get all greased (new inner/outer tire rods, pittman arm, center drag link), still have to get back under and get the last one.

I don't often get burned by Harbor Freight parts - this time I did twice.