I am pretty much a noob when it comes to working on suspensions. How hard is it to remove the control arms? Are the bolts really tight? How are the front sway bar bushings held in? I know on the control arm the old bushings need to be melted off.

Local shop wants $400 and I don't know who else can install it for me in my area.

 

I havent done the control arm bushings, but I have heard if they are really shot they will come out pretty easy. Replacing with the energy suspension set is supposed to be a snap. As for the sway bar, those bushings are easy to replace. Just 2 bolts and a nut to remove.

Dub

Edit

2 bolts and a nut per side.

 

Why are you doing aftermarket control arm bushings? They'll be loud, squeak, and add a lot of NVH. You'll need a press and possibly a torch to get the old ones out and the new ones in. Yes, some of the bolts are on there with 100+ ft/lbs of torque. You'll also need an alignment after it's done.

The sway bar bushings are easy, but you need to get a Chiltons/Haynes/Nissan FSM because you need to know some specfics on how new bushings go on, how to align them (important), and how to torque the bolts. Also, when doing this you need jack the whole front end of the car so that both front tires are off the ground. If you don't do it this way, sway bar will be "loaded" and you'll never get it out of the way to get the old bushings out and the new ones in. You'll need to unbolt the endlinks and then the swaybar attachments on both sides before you can do anything.

 

http://www.4dsc.com/articles/suspens..._bushing.shtml

nearly identical on 4th gens.
plan a full day to do it. have fun.

 

I am using hte Energy suspention control arm bushings and the OEM sway bar bushings.

 

In my experience:

No

Never

eh...maybe a tiny, tiny, tiny bit

 

This may help:
http://doug.maxima.org/showpost.php?...10&postcount=3

 

After installing control arm bushings on my friends Del Sol, the car was a creaky and squeaky nightmare. Everything was luded good too. Of course this was in the dead of winter. Once the temps got above 70 or so, the car was pretty quiet.

 

I've had mine on since march (approx 10,000 miles) with no issues at all.

 

had ES bushings on my car for over a year with no issues.

 

Will the crowbar mess up the balljoint any?

 

No, you're using it as a wedge to push down on the stud.

 

it won't mess up on the ball joint, but be careful not to damage the boot on the balljoint.

 

How hard of a job is it to install new control arms? I don't mind spending the $$ if it will save me hours of aggravation under the car trying to install new bushings and ball joints in the old arms. I've replaced everything else up front and it's still got wander over uneven pavement. I'm at 113K, so I figure the bushings and ball joints are shot. `

 

Take the control arm to a machine shop so they can press the new ball joint in