Hey all....finally got a replacement frame for my 69 Malibu and removed all the bushings from the rear. Took some work, but thanks for the info on this site, made it easier.

Any who, I am getting ready to install the new bushings. I'm going to put them into the freezer for overnight and slip them in, but does it matter which way they go in? I looked at another frame (rotted one) and all the bushings seem to go in from the driver side, inserting towards the passenger side. Does it matter which side has the flange for axial load?

Help before I make a 35 per CA mistake<G>

Jeff

Nobody knows the correct direction for bushing install? Find that hard to believe.

As long as I have your attention, should I have spring isolators at all 4 contact points? When I disassembled the rear end, there was only 1 isolator and it was at the top.

Rear bushings in the ears of the rear go in from the outside. There is a little raised section on the that stops it when it is in far enough.
The isolators on the rear coil springs were only on the top of the spring, not the bottom.
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/100_1544.JPG

In the control arms the bushings all push in from the same side. The bushings are larger around on the side near the flange than they are at the other end so they will only fit properly in the arms in one way since the holes in each side of each arm are different sizes.

That's the answer I was looking for....Thanks! I never would have noticed that one is bigger than the other until I tried to force one in and screwed up a good arm.