Just finished replacing the balljoint and bushes on the left front upper control arm.

To my surprise, the balljoint separated from the hub, and pressed out of the arm, quite easily. The new balljoint pressed in, no problem, too. The $100 Harbour Freight press just earned it's cost...

What I wasn't expected was how tricky the bushes were. You can't press them out in the natural direction, because the control arm won't fit in the press. In the end I ground the hat off, and pressed them out from the outside, in.

There has to be an easier way. Has anyone got a better technique?

I still need to do the other side.....

 

Bumpety bump

 

Cutting the hats off first and then pressing them out is probably the quickest way. If you have a extra heavy duty C clamp (the one used for ball joints) you can press out the center tube and the hat and press out the remaining tube with your press but that takes about as long as cutting the hats off

 

Thanks, if I just do that right away next time (grind the hats off), it would be quicker, as last time it was the last resort after trying everything else!