FORDMUSCLE webmagazine: Installing Energy Supension Polyurethane

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Rear Suspension
Stock Mustang upper and lower control arms are known for their lackluster performance. The combination of a weak three-walled design and rubber bushings leads to wheel hop, axle sway, and other traction problems that compound as power levels are increased.

In this series we'll show you how to install the Energy Suspension control arm bushings for an immediate improvement in rear end stability and traction. While the polyurethane bushings alone will make a huge improvement, boxing the arms (welding a plate along the open end) results in an extremely strong set of control arms, for a fraction of the cost of aftermarket arms. Refer to our article on How to Box your Control Arms in the Tech Department for details.

Removal of the rear upper and lower control arms is achieved with some instruction from a shop manual.		The upper control arm mounts to the differential case. A three jaw puller can be used to force out the sleeve and break the bond between bushing and shell.

The stock bushings are bonded to the shell making them very tough to remove. A couple techniques can be used. Shown is a three jaw puller used in reverse, so the threaded rod is forcing the bushing sleeve outward. The factory shell is not removed.		Another technique is to use a drill the old bushing full of holes. The bushing breaks apart and crumbles out. A heat gun or torch can also be used to burn the adhesive bond between the rubber and shell. Obviously this should only be done with the arms removed from the vehicle.

Knock the sleeve and bushing out using a mallet and punch or socket extension. Clean the shell out thoroughly.		Lightly coat the new bushing with the supplied Formula 5 prelube, and push it into place. The bushing flange should face the shell flange as shown.

Install the supplied polyurethane thrust washer on the non-flanged side of the bushing shell.		The completed control arm is ready to re-install (upper shown).