Hi,

I've had my bushings failed on me for awhile now and decided to replace them (car is 2004 G35 Coupe). My friend helped with the install and we took some pictures during the process. If you are in bay area and need the bushings replaced or other stuff install, you can hit up anotheraznguy (Josh). He's the man! Here is the DIY. Hope it helps other who has similar issue.

These are the steps for replacing your compression rod bushing on G35 / 350z. It appears that this is an item that fails regularly. The failure can result in early tire feathering and clunking noises when braking or taking turns.

Tools Needed

• Jack
• Jack Stands
• 3/8 Drive Ratchet
• 1/2 Drive Ratchet
• 10 mm Socket
• 12 mm Socket
• 14 mm Socket
• 17 mm Socket
• 17 mm Wrench
• 19 mm Socket
• 19 mm Wrench
• 21 mm Socket
• Wire cutters or pliers
• Flat head screw driver
• Pry Bar
• 12 Ton Press
• 1-11/16 Socket (craftsman)
• 2-3/8 Socket (craftsman)
• 2x Spare Cotter Pin

Steps:
1) Jack up front of car
2) Place Jack stands under car
3) Remove wheels using 21mm Socket
4) Begin by removing the factory undertray using the 10mm socket and flat head screw driver for the plastic clips
5) Remove the sway bar bolt using a 17 mm socket
6) Remove the shock bolt using a 17 mm socket and 17 mm wrench
7) Remove the lower control arm to subframe bolt using a 19 mm socket and 19 mm wrench



8) Remove the Cotter Pin connection the compression arm to knuckle using the pliers



9) Remove the Bolt holding the ball joint to the knuckle with a 19 mm socket (Repeat steps 3-9 for other side)
10) Remove the next undertray located near the front crossmember. There are a few 10 mm bolts and 1 plastic clip



11) Next step is to remove the large brace. Following the images, remove 3 - 14 mm bolts and 1 - 19 mm bolt. Remove both sides and make sure to not drop it on your head









12) You should now be able to swing the lower control arm out.



13) Using a pry bar, start removing the compression rod. If it doesn?t come out you may need to spray some pb blaster or wd40. (Repeat steps 12-13)



14) This is what you should see once you finally get it out.



15) Bring arms to the press and using the 2-3/8 socket as a receiver and the 1-11/16 socket to press out the bushing.





16) Admire the crappy stock bushing and press in the new bushing using the reverse process (Repeat steps 15-16)



To reinstall follow the procedures in reverse.

Your install should now be completed. Give it a whirl and hopefully your issues have been resolved.

 

Great DIY! Thanks!

 

Any more DIYs???

 

Has anyone ever had the aluminum arm crack or break in trying to replace just the bushing?

 

None of the pics work

 

Doing this tomorrow. How much time did it approximately take?

 

Fixed the pics.

Probably about 2-3 hours...

 

Thanks for that. What is the clue that they are bad? Mine have never been changed.

 

clunking/popping sound, car not going straight despite alignment, and off course visual inspection (last picture is the torn bushings).

 

OP

So my question is did you use an Infiniti OEM Balljoint because so far the Infiniti dealers I called around here only sells the whole arm plus extra $$$ more for the bushings.

From what I've read around here; using the Ebay Compression Balljoint also had some issues either not fitting right or lasting only a few months.

Other than that..nice DIY

 

Awesome DIY.

I'm thinking of buying a hydraulic press for around $150. It's half the cost of a pair of compression rods and I already have the bushings. Is there any issues with the ball joints? I would hate to just replace the bushings to find out the problem is the ball joint.

 

Would it be easier to just buy a new control arm ?

 

Yes but much more expensive and the new arms will have the same issues down the road.

 

The idea is to replace the actual bushing with an aftermarket of better quality.

 

How many ft lbs of torqe is you Craftsman impact gun? .. Im planning on buying one.