Re: {Chrysler 300} 300C upper control arm bushing replacement

Yes, looking at the E-bay picture more closely, the brackets must slide around in elongated holes in the frame, which is how you set the caster. Notice the shims that must go on the back sides. Set those bushings hard against the control arm bosses, and then adjust the brackets to give you decent caster while removing all slop. Then drive the car straight to a quality alignment shop to have it set up right.

On 08/21/2023 6:45 PM EDT MICHAEL SKOLONES <skolones.michael@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I would look carefully at the brackets. These are bolted to the frame and would determine the amount of wiggle room for the bushing-arm-bushing assembly. It looks like your brackets are too far apart? I would assume that the manual is correct, the bushing flange must be set hard against the boss on the outside of the upper control arm front and rear, and the assembly should fit snugly between the brackets. A dimension must be available somewhere for the distance between the brackets. Is it like this on both sides of the car?

I think it is safe to say that the caster angle will be affected by the fore-aft position of the arm between the brackets.

If the brackets seem OK and there is still too much slop, I'd consider shims (maybe even thick shock absorber washers).

-->I think I know why the bushing rubber chewed up and disappeared: I accessed the forwardlook-300 archive search (Thank You Noel). One article says that, after replacing upper and lower bushings, when installing the arms, the arms have to be in the normal position as if the car is sitting on the ground even though the car is on jacks when removing and replacing the arms.

This is true for most any control arm, you should never tighten up all the bolts until the car is resting on the ground with full weight. But I suspect the bushing was chewed up mostly because of this excessive slack you discovered.

--Mike

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203384440913

On 08/21/2023 2:51 PM EDT Henry A. Mitchell III <hamlll@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

First pic: I need to replace all the upper control arm bushings on my 300C.

Second pic: I have the bushings and they are the correct diameter and length.

Third pic: the manual says to slam the bushing flange against the outer face of the control arm on both sides of the arm with both bushings facing inward.

Fourth pic: currently there is a considerable space between the bushing flange and the control arm face, with the spacing being different on all four bushings (left arm, right arm, front and back), but the space is roughly, roughly ¼ inch. There is no possibility of pressing the bushing flange against the arm (on both sides) and have the arm fit in the arm brackets, like the book says to do.

The question is: using the bushings, how do I locate the arm in the arm brackets, using that space between the bushing flange and the arm? Is there a specified space between the flange and the arm front and back, left and right. Do I make the spacing the same on all four bushings? It seems like the position of the arm would affect the caster.

By the way, I think I know why the bushing rubber chewed up and disappeared: I accessed the forwardlook-300 archive search (Thank You Noel). One article says that, after replacing upper and lower bushings, when installing the arms, the arms have to be in the normal position as if the car is sitting on the ground even though the car is on jacks when removing and replacing the arms.

Henry Mitchell

300C

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