Rear lower bushings 63 Fleetwood

[Robert Collier]

Now that I am final driving the car, I am finding things that need to be addressed. I bought new rear bushings for the lower rear control arm that holds the axle and they are both torn, so the arms sit crooked now. Is there some poly ones or is there a special way to press them in?

When I pressed them in, I tried to center the bushings in the arms. The lower rear ones is suppose to keep the axle from flexing sideways, but should be allowed to move up and down? It looks like they tore because of the movement up and down.

Any info would be very much appreciated, before I install new ones and have the same issue.

[David Thomas]

Russ is correct; I used a socket that fit snugly between the rails of the lower control arm just to the side of the bushing opening. That kept the rails from collapsing under the pressure of pressing in the new bushings. Some folks use a little anti-seize on the bushings and control arm holes to ease the installation of the new bushings.

[Robert Collier]

Oh yes, I remember that part. Thank you all for the help. Ordering the bushings tonight. I can not find any of the poly ones so going with Moogs.

[Robert Collier]

What size spacer, I did not see anything mentioned in the manual?

I am going to get new ones and try it again.

[David Thomas]

Did you torque the bolts with the car sitting on the suspension or with the axle hanging down? All control arm bushings are to be torqued with the weight of the car sitting on the suspension, otherwise, the bushings will be destroyed. When you replace the bushings, be sure to have a spacer between the two sides of the control arm to keep from colapsing it and fully seat the bushings like the originals were. Hand tighten the bolts/nuts, lower the car so it is sitting on suspension, torque on the pivot bolts is done with the car sitting on the suspension.

[Robert Collier]

I will take a picture, there is no rust on the bolt and the bushings were new. That is my problem, the arm should be able to move freely up and down right?

That bushing should be only for side to side movement and twisting?