Hi,
I am in the process of doing a front suspension rebuild on my 72 convertible. I rented a ball joint press from Autozone and used it to press out the ball joints and bushings on the upper and lower control arms. However, while I was tightening the press on one of the lower control arm bushings, the socket that I wedged in between there to brace the metal fell out and the control arm got crunched in a little bit. Does anyone know of a good way to bend it back to the original shape? I don't have access to a torch currently, but if there is no other option I may be able to find one. Is it absolutely critical that the control arm is the exact same shape that it was originally? Thanks in advance!!! Merry Christmas!!!

do not use a torch. it does not need to be perfect. the bushing is the critical part. just beat it back with a hammer or i like to use an adjustable wrench, opened up just enough to slip over the edge and use a pipe on the end to gain leverage and just bend it back. if the bushing is resisting the metal from bending back, help it out with the hammer. if you are too unsure, remove the bushing, then straighten the arm, then reinstall the bushing making sure you have a spacer in there the next time. it is hard to describe, but it is really simple.

Thanks a lot, thats just what I needed to know!

Thanks a lot, thats just what I needed to know!