Im having my car serviced, and it has just about 200,000 mi on the original transmission. I'm getting wheel bearings done, and im wondering how hard it is to have front end bushings done since they are all probably worn out. How much should be a normal charge for something like that ?

 

are you talking about the sway bar bushings?

It's not hard and they are easy to get to.

 

sway bar bushings = not hard at all.
are you talking about control arm bushings too? they're a little harder, but nothing to be scared of, provided you have the tools and are mechanically inclined.

 

200K's getting up there. Lots of bushings might need attention besides the sway-bar. Control arm, subframe, engine mount, steering rack, etc. Maybe have them inspect all first?

 

At 200K replace the whole control arm, not just the bushings.

 

replace the control arms and all and put everything polyurethane

 

Slightly off topic, but IIRC, a hydraulic press is required for the LCA bushings correct?

 

Sway bar bushings is a 30min job but then others are worth replacing in whole, like new LCA (tired LBJ's come for free), tired engine/tranny mounts etc.

If you do want to replace them all do the right thing and get all of them replaced.

Now comes the big question, is it worth all the effort with 200K on the odometer. It may not be bad if you did all the labor, parts may run to close to $1000 when all said and done.

 

yup. you are right. I paid 35 for the ES control arm bushing set. the install is going to cost ~300. That includes an alignment.

 

well i did a motor swap with a 00 DEK motor that only had 10k on it. Im probably gonna hvve the car for a few more years.

 

Nope, you can burn the bushigs out with a propane torch which will allow you to cut the sleeve out with a sawzall, than they will tap right out, hammer the new ones in and your good. Actually the one that likes to get junked from leaky powersteering/valve cover (and I'm pretty sure the big one also) can be done without removing the balljoint and sway bar and just partially dropping the LCA, takes me about 1/2hr to 1-hr tops, this also avoids needing an alignment.