hi all, need some advice. How hard is it to change both front control arm bushings on a 2003 gp? what tools wood i need and where should i get the parts? oh yeah and anything else i should do while its apart? thanks!
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11-08-2008
hi all, need some advice. How hard is it to change both front control arm bushings on a 2003 gp? what tools wood i need and where should i get the parts? oh yeah and anything else i should do while its apart? thanks!
11-08-2008
Pretty sure you need a press.
Why not get new control arms? New bushing front and rear, and a new ball joint.
11-08-2008
is it needed? i dont know. no mechanics here lol. whats that costs?
11-08-2008
Control arms are about $80 a side, but they're not hard to change. Tons easier than bushings. It's your money, but you'll get more for you buck if you buy the control arms with all new components. Getting the forward bushings replaced requires certain tools.
11-09-2008
Where do you get control arms at for $80? I'm assuming that doesn't include the ball joint?
11-09-2008
Of course, this is for my Impala, but the GP should use the same part as our control arms are interchangeable.
RockAuto Parts Catalog
Around $80 shipped and yes that comes with the ball joint and all new bushings. We've used tons of them and I've installed a few myself (on others' cars). They're a steal.
11-09-2008
yea sabres right, i'd go with the whole new set up too....
11-09-2008
what r the benefits of changing the whole setup for us non mechanics?
11-10-2008
Originally Posted by 52 picup
The benefit is quite simple. Instead of having new bushings and wornout ball joints, or soon to be failing ball joints, you get new bushings, new ball joints.
Its a lot easier to spend a few bucks now then to have a mechanic go back in and remove them again to replace a worn out ball joint. I know Dobbs here in St. Louis charges an arm and a leg to replace the ball joints in our cars.
Why you ask? Well its simple. The factory ball joint has three stamped studs that need to air tool/hammered out before they can install a new one. Of course shops will charge out the backside for the labor to do this work. They quoted me $350 bucks to replace ONE ball joint! I was like mmmmmmmmmmmm NO?
You just need to find a friend with a air compressor and rip that old one out and replace it with a new Moog one for like $50 bucks and a case a beer for your friendAll in all you save a TON on cost!
But the reason you replace it all is simple. Mixing old and new parts does not always work best. Cause new parts will put more of a strain on old parts perhaps helping them to fail sooner cause of the new stiffer bushings adding increased pressure than before with the old worn out bushings.
I hope that helps!
) 
)
11-10-2008
actually that helps alot thanks. Anyone know where i can get a good repair manual for a 2003 gp gt? And where is a good place to find the parts? I am in canada, gonna call around a few places today. Does it matter what kind of parts i get cause this is my daily driver. I am looking for parts that are gonna last but don't need to make it race ready. lol
p.s. For all those that are mechanically inclined sometimes a little explaining goes a long way for someone like me who is not at all. An i mean at all!!!lol Thanks again GeddyLee.
11-10-2008
Just curious how your control arm bushings are worn out on a 2003? How miles? Mine are just fine.
11-10-2008
145,000 kms got the car with 23,000. Had it 3.5 years. i put anywhere from 100 to 400 kms a day on it. i would call myself an aggresive driver. Its only the right one that needs changing, but the left ones starting to go. I was told thats because of extra stress. I honestly have no clue. Thats why i like these forums. I am not a car guy and usually have to believe what i am told. Here i can run it by people at least who have some knowledge of my car. Hope that answers your question. lol
11-10-2008
could i put those new control arms on with a breaker bar and ratchets? any clue what the have to be torqued to?
11-10-2008
ok i have looked everywhere, called a few places and they think im nuts to change my control arms if i there not bent. I can't find arms anywhere on the net for my grand prix. On the rock auto site the don't sell them but they do for the impalla. Not sure what to do. Can anyone help? Why would a parts store tell me its not needed unless the cars in an accident then tell me i would have to by control arms from gm for tonnes of $$$$. They have ball joints and bushings but no arms...kind of confused.
11-10-2008
The WBody Store has these for sale....
Control Arms (Pair)
Its a bit steep, but its the whole kit. Not sure if they still stock them or not. You will have to email or something.
Personally given the lack of real miles on your car, your bushings should not be worn out like that. My car has 85k miles on it and its an 03 as well, and the bushings are still holding up. And like you, mine is my daily driver as well.
I am curious how you came to the conclusion again on how the bushings were worn out? Did you discover or think this, or did some mechanic advise you of this little fact? Just curious. I would be a bit suspect to think your bushings went out that fast.
Good luck with it either way
) )
11-10-2008
I am not the best on the geography of Canada, but there is a Quebec Club GP up in your neck of the woods, you can log in there as well and hit them up for answers too. Here is their link.
OQCGP :: Ontario Quebec Club Grand Prix
Just thought I would mention that to ya
) )
11-10-2008
yeah a dealership told me, but at the time i noticed a rubbing vibrating sound. they said it was the right control arm bushing. My dad is a pretty good mechanic for older cars and saturday we changed my oil and i had him look at it and he said that the right side needs to be replaced. He said the left side is starting to go. He said that he can tell because the control arms are not level with the suspension, they are a litlle low. Don't quote me though, my dad knows what hes talking about, i don't so if what i wrote doesn't make sense than its my fault not his. lol
11-10-2008
F*** the parts stores. They don't have them, so of course they'll tell you that it's a stupid idea and sell you what they do have. The arm itself is just a piece of metal. It's cheap to manufacture. Putting the bushings and ball joints on this cheap arm makes it easy to replace everything at once. So, someone decided to sell this all as one piece as a sort of "kit". It's very cost effective and you get new parts all around. Replacing them is so easy, we could talk you through it.
I'd say required tools are a decent ratchet, maybe a breaker bar but a large box-end wrench can work in a pinch on the end of the ratchet, and a torque wrench (since this is your suspension we're talking about). Pickle fork would help getting the ball joint out, but if you're replacing it you can pry the f*** out of it with just a crowbar.
It will cost you more in labor just to have the bushings removed and replaced from your current arms than the price of new arms with all new bushings and ball joints.
Pssst. Here's a hint. My control arms are the same as yours.
When the front bushings go bad, you can usually stick a pry bar in the bottom gap and pry up to see how much it moves. This thread has an example:
North American Impala Owners Association - 2000-2005 Wheels, Tires, Brakes, and Suspension - Front end clunking sound.
11-10-2008
funny!!! when i looked at the two side by side they looked different thats all. I'm a rookie! lol should i change just the front or change all four( is there 4?) lol and do i need a spring compressor to do this? i was told i would have to compress the springs to put it back together. any truth to this. oh and i would take a walk through for sure that be very helpfull thanks sabrewings!F*** the parts stores. They don't have them, so of course they'll tell you that it's a stupid idea and sell you what they do have. The arm itself is just a piece of metal. It's cheap to manufacture. Putting the bushings and ball joints on this cheap arm makes it easy to replace everything at once. So, someone decided to sell this all as one piece as a sort of "kit". It's very cost effective and you get new parts all around. Replacing them is so easy, we could talk you through it.
I'd say required tools are a decent ratchet, maybe a breaker bar but a large box-end wrench can work in a pinch on the end of the ratchet, and a torque wrench (since this is your suspension we're talking about). Pickle fork would help getting the ball joint out, but if you're replacing it you can pry the f*** out of it with just a crowbar.
It will cost you more in labor just to have the bushings removed and replaced from your current arms than the price of new arms with all new bushings and ball joints.
Pssst. Here's a hint. My control arms are the same as yours.
When the front bushings go bad, you can usually stick a pry bar in the bottom gap and pry up to see how much it moves. This thread has an example:
North American Impala Owners Association - 2000-2005 Wheels, Tires, Brakes, and Suspension - Front end clunking sound.
11-10-2008
Only two control arms on your car. The rear uses a setup of lateral link rods and trailing arms.
No spring compressor needed. It's really self explanatory. Remove ball joint nut, pry ball joint from knuckle, remove front bushing bolt, remove rear bushing bolt, installation is the reverse of removal. I'm sure someone on here can get you the proper torque specs.
Recommended practice for tightening the two pivot bolts is to put them on, but not tight. Once the ball joint is done, use a floor jack to compress the suspension to normal ride height, and then you tighten the pivot bolts to specs.
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