Front Axle / Front Suspension: 1965 Studebaker Front End Rebuild Questions

[Blake_H]

I have been slowly trying to get my Daytona's front suspension done and finally had some time to work on it this past weekend. But the lower control arms are causing me some heartburn and I'm not sure if it's because this type of front end is all new to me or if the previous owner did some damage when he had it rebuilt.

Issue #1) the inner shaft on the on the first lower control arm I pressed the bushings out came right out. But when I did this one, it didn't cooperate like the first one.




In this shot you can see the bushing/sleeve was obviously pushed too far on the inner shaft, which leads me to believe that mistake is part of the reason I can't get the inner shaft out.

Issue #2 is I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get the old bushing cups out of the lower control arm. I'm sure it's simple and I'm somehow missing it in the manual, but would one of you (or more) knowledgeable folks mind sharing the trick for removal in simple words this guy can pick up on?

[Studebakercenteroforegon]

You are being too kind and gentle! Get a big ol’ hammer and a big ol’ blunt dull chisel and knock those bushings out of there!

[StudeRich]

If you can extract the outer Bushing sleeve, the inner one should be easy.

[Jeffry Cassel]

If you take a hacksaw and assemble it so the blade is inside the bushing, you can carefully cut the bushing through. Try not to cut into the A arm. This should release it just enough to remove it with a drift and a 1 or 2 lb. hammer.

[JoeHall]

I have a tool kit for the upper bushings, but not the bottom ones. So I use a dull, slightly angled chisel to get under the lip, and a 2 pound ball peen to whack the chisel with. It also helps to spray some of your favorite penetrant around the contact surface. Agree with post no. 2, don't be gentle with it, whack it as much as needed.

[Blake_H]

Issue #1 has been resolved. A combination of everything you guys mentioned worked. I ended using a chisel, a small saw and a hack saw to get them out.

[carneedswork]

Whenever I do any press work like that, I always use petroleum jelly on parts like your bushing before pressing it back together. Make it so much easier.

[swvalcon]

I've found to get them out I just use my air chisel and get on the edge of the bushing and they slide right out.