Boring out a control arm bushing

[MtnRanger160]

Maybe need some guidance.

Installing the Savvy DA control arms, but the stock bushings hole is too small and won't fit so I tried boring out with a 7/16" drill bit to finish this install and this thing is defeating me! Anyone ever do this? I grinded away for an hour yesterday and I'm not sure I'll be able to punch through the metal sleeve. If I use the stock bolts (or grade 8) will I get vibrations or wandering steering?

 

[Mike_H]

The bushing is hardened, if I'm not mistaken... So drilling it with standard drill bits isn't going to work.

I don't know the answers to the other question, but the instructions should say which size bolt to use.

 

[MtnRanger160]

The bushing is hardened, if I'm not mistaken... So drilling it with standard drill bits isn't going to work.

I don't know the answers to the other question, but the instructions should say which size bolt to use.

I purposely bought a bit to drive into steel yesterday for this job so it's not an ordinary bit and it's still sharp. Savvy sells the bushings with 7/16" holes but I just can't justify spending $120 on a pair. I'm going to trying, maybe put some paste or lube this thing and see if it cuts more and report back

 

[jjvw]

Are you trying to drill out the front upper axle mount bushings? I didn't have to do that. Use a smaller bolt.

2003 Rubicon

 

[Mike_H]

I purposely bought a bit to drive into steel yesterday for this job so it's not an ordinary bit and it's still sharp. Savvy sells the bushings with 7/16" holes but I just can't justify spending $120 on a pair. I'm going to trying, maybe put some paste or lube this thing and see if it cuts more and report back

Unless it's a cabide bit, your just going to get frustrated. If it is carbide, you'll probably break it in a hand drill.

 

[MtnRanger160]

I gave up, just used smaller grade 8 bolts and it works just fine. Thanks for the advice guys. Drove it around at about 70mph and nothing crazy happened so I guess it's good to go.

 

[jjvw]

As long as the bolt is correctly torqued, it will be fine. I'm still confused about needing to drill out the bushing.

2003 Rubicon

 

[MtnRanger160]

As long as the bolt is correctly torqued, it will be fine. I'm still confused about needing to drill out the bushing.

2003 Rubicon

I wasn't trying to drill out the bushing. The steel bushing sleeve was too small for the 7/16" bolt provided by Savvy when I bought the control arms, so I attempted to drill out the sleeve to fit the new bolts and that's where the failure came in. The old bolts seem to work just fine though so I'm just running it as is.

 

[jjvw]

I wasn't trying to drill out the bushing. The steel bushing sleeve was too small for the 7/16" bolt provided by Savvy when I bought the control arms, ....

I get that. My front uppers at the time bolted right in. No drilling required with the bolts Savvy provided. I don't recall if I drilled the frame side because that would have been a non-issue. I wonder if the set you got is intended for the Currie housing kit that replaces the bushings with Johnny Joints. That's just a guess...

2003 Rubicon

 

[MtnRanger160]

I get that. My front uppers at the time bolted right in. No drilling required with the bolts Savvy provided. I don't recall if I drilled the frame side because that would have been a non-issue. I wonder if the set you got is intended for the Currie housing kit that replaces the bushings with Johnny Joints. That's just a guess...

2003 Rubicon

Sounds plausible, but I did read forums where people had the same issue and had to drill out. They made it sound easy but I haven't faired that well yet. Don't feel like spending the money on those JJ bushings for the axle right now. Like you said, tighten to spec. and go from there, it seems to be working just fine..