Regal Upper A Arm Rebuild

[Buick6]

I'm rebuilding the front suspension on an 84' Regal for Stock Eliminator using Moog stock replacement rubber upper A arm bushings. There are "teeth" on both ends of the upper A arm bushings and on the inside of the cross shafts. What is the easiest way to remove the teeth? Small hand grinder? I am also going to hone the inside of the bushings to slide on the cross shafts easily. Anything else I should be doing? JR Weese

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Buick6

I'm rebuilding the front suspension on an 84' Regal for Stock Eliminator using Moog stock replacement rubber upper A arm bushings. There are "teeth" on both ends of the upper A arm bushings and on the inside of the cross shafts. What is the easiest way to remove the teeth? Small hand grinder? I am also going to hone the inside of the bushings to slide on the cross shafts easily. Anything else I should be doing? JR Weese

First thing to do is cut off the rubber that protrudes beyond the outer serrations.Just use a hacksaw . Then grind the end of the sleeve smooth with a 4" grinder. Do the same on the other end . Then press the bushings in after lubing the shaft and sleeve with anti-seize. No need to hone the sleeves.
Press them both in at the same time, using a piece of 1,1/2 angle iron, cut to fit in between the ears of the A-arm to keep from collapsing it. Little tap with a hammer here and there will help straighten it all up.
Run the lock nuts and flat washers down until you can still barely rotate the washer.
That's the best you're going to do, using stock type bushings.
The Dime Rocket way!

[Buick6]

Thanks Mark. Now if I can just figure out how to keep the anti-seize from getting all over me and the entire garage whenever I use it.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Buick6

Thanks Mark. Now if I can just figure out how to keep the anti-seize from getting all over me and the entire garage whenever I use it.

Not so bad, compared to the mess using the torch to get the original rubber out of there.

[Buick6]

You aren't kidding! Lucky I did that gooey mess outside.

[j gardiner]

Have you thought about using the solid bushings?

[Buick6]

I'm using roller bushings in the lower A arms. The stock replacement upper bushings should work fine with a few mods.

[Buick6]

For future reference, I ordered Moog Problem Solver replacement upper control arm bushings #K6176 for my 84 Regal. They no longer are made with the "teeth" or serrations on them. No work is needed to modify them. I spoke to Moog and was told they stopped making them with the serrations in 2014. If you get a set of these with the serrations (and you probably will), they are old stock that have been sitting on a shelf somewhere. These bushings fit all of the GM G bodys and S-10's. Don't know if Moog bushings for other car models are done like this or not. And Mark was right. They do not need honed. They slide on easily as is. Great "dime rocket" parts.