AWD lower control arm inner bushes: The joys of going OEM!!!

[FrangaFry]

So, a little story, hopefully with a good ending ............. just had to vent ........

Tried to be 'smart' recently when faced with replacing the lower control arm inner bushes on my 2004 VY CX8. Did the usual thing first and went to pedders for a quote (was little on the $$$ 'Oh shit' side) so thought, hah, how hard can it be; I'll get some OEM's (3 hundy, not too bad for front and rear inners) and get them fitted somewhere else:

1. Got a mate who runs a tyre fitting joint, hoist, mechanic .......... mate's rates! - BaaaaBBBBaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh, first fail - After a days frigging around, we realised the K frame has to drop ......... not the right tools to do it (Doh!).

2. No probs, i'll go back to pedders and see what they will quote to fit these OEM's - BaaaaaaBBBBBaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh, second fail - B/C this gear is OEM, it's gunna cost 'quite a bit more' more than fitting the Pedders (2 piece) nolothane stuff (too late, already got the OEM's, still can't be that hard can it....)...

3. Ring around to all my local mechanics - BaaaaaaaBBBBBBaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh, third fail, either no one wants to do it, has never done it before or the labor quotes are just 'out there'.............. getting a little concerned now.....

4. So, I give my local Holden dealer a call (I used to know some of the fellas there after years of being a customer - have not been there for a good 5 or 6 years now though) and explain my situation (trying to save some money, already bought the parts, no one wants to do it, i'm an idiot, I want the OEM and not nolothane gear etc etc). "No problems" they say and quote considerably less than others to fit the OEM stuff I have purchased - WoooooHooooo - who would of thought (light at the end of the tunnel).

5. Dropped the car off as an early pickup on Sunday night (as I need it to get around for work etc); Got a call late yesterday explaining that it might take a little longer, can they have it till Tue - Yeah, I can do that (just had a vasectomy last night, so not too keen to go back to work today............. balls like Oranges ,,,,, hahhahaha).

BaaaaaaaaBBBBBBBaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh

Just got off the phone with them and they have explained that they are having a few wee problems; To date,

- they have torn my new set of front bushes trying to press them in (tight apparently ....)
- they have a torn a second set of new front bushes (still tight, hmmmmmm)
- they have sent it off to pedders to have a crack (apparently they have better - equipment??) who have torn a 3rd set of new bushes trying to press them in

by this stage, I have gone quite pale on the end of the phone as the $$$$ are stacking up in my head - (wife's gunna frik'n KILL Me!)

So I am then asked if I 'really' want the OEM stuff (pedders have a 2 piece that fits really easily), yep, have it on good advice that OEM is far superior ride to nolothane stuff, so stick to my guns. If not, "can we have it till Thursday (earliest) as we are flying down some different OEM stock" - that would be the 4th set now ................ OMFG

So, we have the 'conversation', "Ummmm, 4 sets of OEM bushes @ couple o' hundy each, a visit to Pedders, their time, your time, a heap of labor all round .............. tell me where your going with this please ..."

Well, I was not unhappy with the result; The quoted price I originally received will stand (ok, can start to breath again), the parts will be replaced no stress (ok, blood and color coming back into my head) and "Oh, by the way, we have put a car aside for you to drive if you need it!"

WTF!!!! - You can not be too p1ssed at that! - although the saga is not ended yet (car is still up in the air with no AWD lower control arm bushes), I am surprisingly up beat about the potential for minimal impact to my life.

So, jury is still out, but thank you FTG Holden for the effort to date.

- This sums up my life with cars over the last few years ........... No wonder the wife wants me to to take up fishing seriously again ............ LOL

[whitels1ss]

Do you feel better now?

I love reading some of your posts mate, I can so relate to how you feel.

Seriously, I hope you get it sorted quick without the ongoing cost of a divorce or a boring next few years of you life spent fishing.

[FrangaFry]

Do you feel better now?

I do, the 'FrenchFry' feels much better *wink* ............ it's was good practice for when the wife comes home, need to make sure my story is straight otherwise the pain I already have between my legs would have been considerably amplified I am sure .....

Cheers,

[whitels1ss]

I do, the 'FrenchFry' feels much better *wink* ............ it's was good practice for when the wife comes home, need to make sure my story is straight otherwise the pain I already have between my legs would have been considerably amplified I am sure .....

Cheers,

Good stuff mate,

would you like to have your username changed to "FrenchFry" now?

[whitels1ss]

I just replaced the rear control arm bushes myself on my SS last weekend with these SuperPro bushes

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121594520...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I am very happy with these except I thought there was 2 sides in a set but you only get enough bushes for 1 side in a set
so I had to order a second set before I did the job which held me up until the next weekend before I was able to do the job.

I should have read the description better in the first place.

I actually bought these because I was told how much of a pita the OEM ones were to fit & I was told these were good quality items
by a very good mate who runs a suspension shop.

[Woodchukka]

I hear you when you try and do something and it blows out. Good to hear a dealer taking some responsibility.

[FrangaFry]

Just got back from the dealer to pick up my loaner; Very decent of them too, new model commo with a full tank of juice; Was told it's mine until they sort it out!

Gota be honest, was not expecting a loaner (would probably not even have asked for one); so pleasantly surprised.

[Micks]

I just replaced the rear control arm bushes myself on my SS last weekend with these SuperPro bushes

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121594520...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I am very happy with these except I thought there was 2 sides in a set but you only get enough bushes for 1 side in a set
so I had to order a second set before I did the job which held me up until the next weekend before I was able to do the job.

I should have read the description better in the first place.

I actually bought these because I was told how much of a pita the OEM ones were to fit & I was told these were good quality items
by a very good mate who runs a suspension shop.

Yes mate the Superpro stuff is great & a piece of piss to fit cause of that reason..Bet it took you longer to remove the shit oem ones than it took to install the newies

[IJ.]

I'll just leave this here...

prog351.jpg

[Woodchukka]

I'll just leave this here...

prog351.jpg

Holy crap! What a mess. No wonder they had issues.

[IJ.]

Stupidly I trashed a perfect set of originals and installed Nolathanes...

worst decision ever ALL of the small/sharp bump compliance is gone in the Tonner...

Just can't bring myself to install a set of stockies as it's a bitch of a job as noted in this thread..
(can't believe they've munted 4 sets though... I mean really)

[Micks]

Holy crap! What a mess. No wonder they had issues.

That was one of IJ's ordinary days..The ones we seldom see

[IJ.]

The OEM bushes are Oil filled, if they're not "Wet" leave me be

Yeah very ordinary that day, just about used every tool I own to get those out short of the Chainsaw...

[whitels1ss]

Yes mate the Superpro stuff is great & a piece of piss to fit cause of that reason..Bet it took you longer to remove the shit oem ones than it took to install the newies

Yeah it was a bit harder but
I used a special little tool (pictured above the bushes) & got them all out in one piece

20150602_195704 - Copy.jpg

[VTClubSprtR8]

which way are they spose to come out of the k-frame?