Beretta.net

I tried searching but didn't come up with what I needed. I bought some ES poly control arm bushings for the 93 GTZ - Can someone explain the process of replacing them? I realize the bolts will need to come out, but wasn't sure if there was a specific procedure...?

Use a drill press and drill through the rubber - around the metal tube in the bushing - thats how I got them out.

And or - set them on fire and burn them out.

Also stitch weld the seems on the control arms to make them stronger.

bonecrrusher wrote:Also stitch weld the seems on the control arms to make them stronger.

Has anyone proven that theory? I know it's pretty straight forward in thinking it will help but I've heard some say it's not worth it.

Besides control arms rusting apart - I've never seen a set bust/flex apart from daily driving.

You would think a physical bond - melting the 2 arms together would be stronger then the mechanical bond of them being press fit together.

If you've got them out of the car, have access to a welder, and going to be working on them - probably the best time to 'upgrade' them....

But what do I know....

They are spot welded together... not pressed...

3X00-Modified wrote:

bonecrrusher wrote:Also stitch weld the seems on the control arms to make them stronger.

Has anyone proven that theory? I know it's pretty straight forward in thinking it will help but I've heard some say it's not worth it.

I did mine while they were out, idk if it helps but it could not hurt, i saw it in that magazine article from the 90's

3X00-Modified wrote:They are spot welded together... not pressed...

Touché



Its been a long time since I looked at a set of those.

The set that I had welded up ended up under Kevin's car - and well that got smashed years ago.

Fully welded is better than spot welded. Just ask the rear axle in my Camaro. haha

The ES ones are a piece of cake, but the stockers are a pain to remove.

Getting ready to FINALLY get around to doing this project before BerettaFest. As far as getting the control arms out - just unbolt them and remove th ball joints?

Two bolts for the control arm bushings - and the ball joint itself.

Either have to cut the rivets off - and or unbolt them and knock them out with a hammer if they haven't already been replaced.

bonecrrusher wrote:

Two bolts for the control arm bushings - and the ball joint itself.

Either have to cut the rivets off - and or unbolt them and knock them out with a hammer if they haven't already been replaced.

I was serious..... until I got under the car and looked... for some reason I thought it was more complicated than that... lol

Not a bad idea to get new control arm bolts. They do tend to rust out.

Money pit Beretta wrote:Not a bad idea to get new control arm bolts. They do tend to rust out.

The hardware actually seemed to be in pretty good shape. I wound up using the drill/press out method and that worked OK.

The new ones were cake -- I almost bought new replacement control arms but after getting the ES ones in (and knowing how easy they'll be to replace in the future) and installing new ball joints (MF'ing rivets!) I think I'm in pretty good shape if anything needs attention in the future.

Man your lucky, one of my 95's had all the threads rusted off.