Control arm bushings

[CJM]

Anyone know how much play these things should have? Mine seem to have a heck of alot, even the new control arm I replaced. You can push a prybar inbetween the subframe and the arm and push back and forth a good bit.

Also if I go to replace the bushings do I need to actually take off the control arms to do it, or can I leave them attached at the balljoints and just take them off the frame?

[Seanz0rz]

if its anything like my 3rd gen, you will have to press them out, which means disconnecting the bj's.

[CJM]

YAY.. I think i willleave them be.

I got my vibration pretty much 80% or better gone. Can still feel the drivetrain unload and load a bit on the drivers side, and it vibes a wee bit- but I think its the best it will ever be.

Also the bumps on that side are very rough, the bumpstops got mutilated. Gotta get a torch and heat them up to push them down and maybe weld gussets.

Let this be a lesson to many, just cause we think our trucks are indestructible-they arent. Maybe if I had a SFA it would turned out ok, but worn out shocks and bushings and a impromptu night run offroad on some hard packed sand that had whoops we failed to see cause the truck to jump like it had hydraulics. Ruined the frontend, leafs and the 180k I had already wore the bushings down and the jump made them die. I have replaced near EVERY bushings on the truck, done the leaf springs, replaced all frontend parts besides the control arms and even the bushings that hold up the front axles. Be carefull, I took a nice truck and screwed it royally in all of 2 minutes.

[mastacox]

Anyone know how much play these things should have? Mine seem to have a heck of alot, even the new control arm I replaced. You can push a prybar inbetween the subframe and the arm and push back and forth a good bit.

Also if I go to replace the bushings do I need to actually take off the control arms to do it, or can I leave them attached at the balljoints and just take them off the frame?


I'm assuming the bushings are VERY similar to a 2nd gen 4runner, which I have first-hand experience replacing (and it ain't pretty). You'll have to remove the control arm from the frame and ball joint, and take them to a shop to get the old ones pressed out and the new ones in.

A little play with a pry bar should be normal as long as you're applying a good amount of force (a lot of play is bad though). If they're originals I would guess they're bad and should be replaced (I would recommend poly ones, as long as you grease them good).

[CJM]

Yea, they do have some decent play. Not something I really want to be bothered with for now.

I just got the truck about 80-90% vibration free, they are the only bushings not replaced.

[strykersd]

You're T100 uses the same front suspension as IFS first and second generation 4runner, correct? If so I was able to replace my control arm bushings with poly bushings on my 86 4runner without having to take them to a shop and have them pressed it. The beauty of poly bushings are that you just remove all the rubber from the original bushings and pop the new ones into the old metal sleeve.

[CJM]

Yea, same arms but wider front end actually.

I want to do this but getting them off will be a pita imho. The lowers are easy, its the upper with the torsions that annoy me. Also the fact I will have to pay for yet another alignment (will be the 4th one in a little over a year).

Also I am getting this clack I presume is from the steering rack as I move the wheels by hand with the tires off the ground. I either think its from the steering rack or the rag joint in the steering column.

At this point tho, I got the truck pretty good for now so im kinda stoked. After all the work I did and my accident that cause all of this I have concluded it probably wont ever be 100% again.

Time will tell what I will do, but im gonna concentrate on the cosmetics and accessories for now. Need a pass fender, new radio, antenna and antenna wire, etc.