Control arm bushing part number

[Ken C.]

I have a set of what i think are lower control arm bushings. Would Joe or someone know by this number.
It says Harris 62151 on them.
Came with other parts for my 72. By looking at my car i think the po was going to install as the lowers are dry rotting. uppers look in much better condition.
2nd question, i see where in the service manual it says the lowers control arm bushings can be installed while on car. I spoke with a shop and he's been around 40 yrs. and says he can do it. is there anything i should know or ask him regarding install. i know the manual says to tack weld them to control arm. he says this isnt necessary? should i be looking elseware? i dont want bent arms. 2nd option is to take front end apart and send all 4 arms to Bairs for rebuild.

[Joe L.]

Re: Control arm bushing part number

I have a set of what i think are lower control arm bushings. Would Joe or someone know by this number.
It says Harris 62151 on them.
Came with other parts for my 72. By looking at my car i think the po was going to install as the lowers are dry rotting. uppers look in much better condition.
2nd question, i see where in the service manual it says the lowers control arm bushings can be installed while on car. I spoke with a shop and he's been around 40 yrs. and says he can do it. is there anything i should know or ask him regarding install. i know the manual says to tack weld them to control arm. he says this isnt necessary? should i be looking elseware? i dont want bent arms. 2nd option is to take front end apart and send all 4 arms to Bairs for rebuild.

Ken------


The bushings sound like the GM lower bushings. That Harris part number "rings a bell". From GM they are known as GM #3714368.

I've never heard of replacing the lower bushings with the arms installed on the car. However, I suppose it could be done by someone that had experience doing it. Personally, I would not attempt it myself.

I've never heard of instructions for the bushing installation calling for them being tack-welded to the arms. The GM Service Manual for C3's, at least, does not call for this procedure.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Control arm bushing part number

...i see where in the service manual it says the lowers control arm bushings can be installed while on car. I spoke with a shop and he's been around 40 yrs. and says he can do it. is there anything i should know or ask him regarding install. i know the manual says to tack weld them to control arm. he says this isnt necessary? should i be looking elseware? i dont want bent arms. 2nd option is to take front end apart and send all 4 arms to Bairs for rebuild.

Which service manual do you have?...GM service manuals say to remove the lower control arm for bushing replacement. I'm really skeptical anyone can replace those bushing with the control arms on the car...they would have to enjoy a challenge; like building a ship in a bottle.

You may be thinking of the lower ball joints...the lower ball joints can be replaced with the control arm on the car, but these would have to be bolted rather than riveted as original.

I'm pretty certain that if someone says he "can do" this lower control arm replacement, he will either remove the arm to do it or you could be very unhappy with the result. GM had special tools with spacers to maintain the distance between the two sides of the control arm as the bushings were being pressed out and in. In my opinion, the bushing are too hard to remove to allow this to be done on the car.

IF you need the ball joints replaced (often not necessary), I would definitely send all the control arms to Bairs. When you get them back, they will be "restored" (if that is what you request) and ready to install. Bair's won't be cheap, but you won't have to spend a couple hundred for a press, and you will save the aggravation.

If the car isn't being restored for judging, then factory correct restoration isn't necessary, and you can have them done locally. You can either remove the control arms or let them do it ($$). If you have never removed a lower control arm before, be advised there are special techniques for controlling the potential energy stored in the suspension springs...sudden release of springs will be dangerous unless you follow the service manual procedures exactly.

BTW...do your "Harris" bushings have about 1/4" of rubber protruding from the metal housing on the straight end (away from the mounting flange?)