A arms and Bushing sleeves

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A arms and Bushing sleeves

July 21, 2007, 08:04:32 PM

Well guys I'm currently on the hunt looking for a set of A-arms for my Tbird because the guys who said they could "press" the bushings out used an airchisel instead of a press to remove them. So while the A-Arms are salvageable the sleeves that hold the bushings are not...........

But!! I just remembered that my 87-88 arms are supposed to be the same as 94-98 mustang arms so my question is are the bushings from 87-88 tbird the same as bushings from 94-98 mustang?

Because if that is the case than I can order the mustang bushings which come with the bushing sleeves and salvage my a-arms. And if not than I can hopefully locate some tbird arms (which I might have done already on this site).

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #1 – July 21, 2007, 09:20:15 PM

The arms are the same length, but they are not the same bushing-wise.

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #2 – July 21, 2007, 09:29:59 PM

shiznit

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #3 – July 22, 2007, 03:31:35 PM

My energy suspension front bushings came with the shells on them. If the arms aren't to messed up you might be able to use those.

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #4 – July 22, 2007, 03:33:02 PM

Quote from: ipsd;162612

My energy suspension front bushings came with the shells on them. If the arms aren't to messed up you might be able to use those.

Some do, some don't

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #5 – July 22, 2007, 05:00:07 PM

What year are the bushings and what is the diameter of the shell? The diameter on my a-arms is 2.5 inches on the big one and about 1.5 on the little one. And I think I might have located a pair of a-arms to use so don't knock yourself out looking for the sleeves if you don't have to.

Thanks,

Tony

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #6 – July 23, 2007, 10:17:01 AM

I just got the whole car kit. It also said mustang on the box. Everything went right in.

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #7 – July 23, 2007, 10:29:16 AM

87-88TCs use a different set of bushings than the earlier cars (which use the Fox Mustang bushings).

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #8 – July 23, 2007, 02:02:44 PM

UPDATE!!! I called carquest today and turns out that you can order the a-arm bushings with the outer bushing sleeves!!!!! So I've got them coming in tomorrow and once they arrive I'll double check that they fit and hopefully no a-arms will need to be removed!!

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #9 – July 23, 2007, 02:40:39 PM

Any rubber bushing will come with the sleeve. The rubber is bonded to the inner and outer bushing. This is why you tighten rubber control arm bushing at ride height. If you do so at any other position, it adds a preload to the suspension.

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #10 – July 23, 2007, 10:37:27 PM

Jeremy is right. I was amazed the first time I tore apart a front suspension with the rubber bushings.
I used the Global West Del-Alum bushings, and it was one of the single best things I did to my suspension.
First time I went to change front springs, I popped the lower ball joint and had to fight to push the LCA down to remove the spring.
After the GW bushings, I popped the balljoint and the LCA fell to hang straight down and swung like a pendulum, and the spring fell out and went rolling across the floor.

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #11 – July 24, 2007, 07:25:09 PM

I wouldn't mess rebuilding the A arms. I went with the FMS-3075-D control arms on my 87 Sport. They are a bargain at $160 for the pair and have the bushings and ball joints in them all ready. Put some new sway bar bushings and coil spring isolators and it'll handle better than new.

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #12 – July 24, 2007, 08:19:30 PM

Do the SN95 ball joints work with Fox spindles?

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #13 – July 25, 2007, 03:08:25 PM

I installed the FMS-3075-D "A" arms complete out of the box with my T-Bird sport spindles and KYB GR-2 struts. The only difference I can see is that the spring cups appear to be 1/2" deeper on the new A arms compared to the old. I was hoping it would have lowered the front end that 1/2" but I also used new spring isolators so the front end remained at the stock height. If I were to do the job again, I probably would cut 3-4" off the end each coil to get the lowered height I was looking for but the handling and ride is better than new.

A arms and Bushing sleeves

Reply #14 – August 07, 2007, 10:43:42 AM

A little birdie told me it wouldn't work...

New BJs and bushings from Moog will run ~$165.
The same from Spicer's "service grade" will run ~$40.