So I failed at finding someone to press out bushings to install whitelines and I bought both new front lower control arms instead. I don't have a power tool where I am.. don't really have a great set of tools here at all, but I need to get this job done. Anyone who has done such a suspension job, is it necessary to have an impact wrench? Or Can I just pay to rent a torque wrench from autozone? I have a breaker bar for my 1/4" but not for the 1/2..are those bolts on that tough where some elbow grease and pb blaster won't do the trick? Let me know guys! Thanks!

 

Don't need impact gun but a 1/2 min breaker bar would work. Or just use a pipe of sort for extension on regular 1/2-3/4" ratchet will suffice. PB blaster will always help. Also the torque wrench from auto will only help you in tightening it to it's specified torque not loosening it although they may have breaker bars for rent also.

 

Where are you in Ca?

 

I'm in corona/oc Drew

 

Thanks for that info bowwizzel that was something else I should've considered also!

 

Did all suspension work on my car without an impact. Need about a 24" 1/2 breaker bar. Also, a small pipe or jack handle helps with leverage. It also helps to have a couple extra sockets and ratchets.

 

Henry at Temple City Auto did my Whiteline Compression Rod and inner LCA bushings. I'm in south orange county, so believe me when I say it's worth the drive to Temple City.

 

Thanks for that boost of confidence, coffeysm. I don't imagine it to be too hard of a job, but I'll find out in the morning..will post results later.
Btw, anything out of the ordinary I should expect? I know not to move much for alignment issues, but I'm hoping this is as plug and play as a Nissan Altima YouTube video I caught replacing LCAs

 

Nice thanks for that info DrewDrew I may have to stop by once I get these old arms out & upgrade the bushings through him!

 

Only thing I can think of is not to use a pickle fork to separate the LCA from the ball joint. I used that and ended up destroying my ball joint, lol. I had to press them out and replace them which is not very fun. There is another tool called a ball joint separator that would probably work better, but I couldn't find one.

PB Blaster and pickup some extra cotter pins, since odds are yours will be rusted and destroyed when you take it out.

FYI* after you replace these you'll need an alignment anyway.

 

Ahh thank you for that extra insight. Just learned a lesson not to simply take the advice of alignment shops..I thought I needed LCAs because the guy comes out and tells me it's LCAs and quotes near $1k..so I go to auto zone and buy the parts without looking..just set up for the job and I don't think my LCAs are that bad. the transverse link, I believe, is where the bushings have failed..so back to auto zone hoping they've got this in stock.

 

Ahh okay they sold you the compression rods. On our cars the transverse link is actually the lower control arm, but not everyone knows that. You can have those bushings pressed out and re-use the arm if it's still sound. I couldn't do it mine, since the metal was being worn at an angle.

If it's not a rush I'd order your parts from RockAuto.com. I bought both of them for about 100 bucks. I used Dorman's and not everyone likes them, but I haven't had any issues at all.

1K is definitely outrageous to do this...