My saggy old girl. (with pics)

[tjkj2002]

Really?

I check with Advance Auto and they have them for $10.99 each.

Are we talking about the same bushings? They're the ones where the strut mounts to the LCA. Not the bushings were the LCA mounts to the frame.

Same ones,they are pressed into the LCA's and require special tools to remove and install.I spent 3 hours trying to press one out with the correct special tools and broke the tools(which cost $200 alone),got some $1200 quotes,then just replaced the whole LCA's for way less money.With the amount of corrosion you you have good luck,your going to need it,I'd suggest a air hammer and acetylene/oxygen torch to add in removal and hope you don't damage the LCA.

 

[ShafferNY]

Well that *****.

If that's the case, they'll have to wait. I certainly can't afford an extra $400 right now. Ouch!

When I changed the leaf spring bushings on my old '78 Chevy truck I burned them out with a propane torch. Once the rubber was out of the way, I used a hacksaw blade to gently cut a groove thru the steel sleeve. Finally I used a cold chisel to peel out the sleeve.

It was very time consuming, but it got the job done.

Any chance I do something like that here?

I'd still have to press them in somehow or get someone else to do it.

 

[ShafferNY]

I just had a thought. Maybe I could sweat fit them in.

I've replaced ball joints on solid front axles that way.

Throw the new bushing in the kitchen freezer for a couple hours. Then heat the LCA up with a torch and very quickly set the ice cold bushing in the LCA.

 

[ShafferNY]

This is what Advance Auto has listed for my '03

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Part No. FB861 McQuay-Norris Control Arm Bushing
Control Arm Bushing: Front Suspension; Strut To Arm, Lower; 2 Per Car
Warranty: Limited 1 Year* $10.99

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Part No. FB862 McQuay-Norris Control Arm Bushing
Control Arm Bushing: Front Suspension; Arm To Frame, Lower; 4 Per Car
Warranty: Limited 1 Year* $24.99

 

[JeepJeepster]

Yea, drill them out. Clean the hole up really good then heat it up and freeze the bushing like someone said.

Not sure why you couldnt use a big vise to press them in.

 

[JMSMN]

shafferny, how much lower than stock height is your kj right now. I looked at mine after reading this post and mine sits a little lower than yours in the front. Between UCA and bumpstop have about 1 1/2". Is that normal or saggy also.

 

[ShafferNY]

I'm really not sure how much lower than stock it sits. From what I hear, every KJ is different.

My shocks have no resistance to them, and the darn thing bottoms out very easily. There is only a couple of inches or so between the UCA and bumpstop.

My alignment is also way negative with the top of the tire tilting inwards.

Since I put my General Grabbers on last summer the insides of the tires have worn 2/32nds more than the outside.

 

[JMSMN]

My fronts are just starting to wear funny too. Alot easier to justify to wife to drop the money on getting a good lift now.

 

[tommudd]

if you are over 35,000 / 40,000 your shocks and springs are pretty much GONE
replace them and see how much better it will ride and handle

 

[JeepJeepster]

Tell that to our zj! Its running 170k on stock suspensoin! hehe

The underside of it actually looks better than the OP's kj..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/jeepjeepster/Main Folder2/DSCF1668.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/jeepjeepster/Main Folder2/DSCF1667.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/jeepjeepster/Main Folder2/DSCF1671.jpg