Control Arm Bushing - Rear

Remove and replace the rear control arm bushings on a 1972 Ford F-100 with 302ci V8, restoring proper suspension geometry and eliminating clunking or excessive rear axle movement.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear control arm bushing kit (upper) × 2 — Use OEM specification or Moog K6125
• Rear control arm bushing kit (lower) × 2 — Use OEM specification or Moog K6126

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid ground and engage parking brake.
2. Place wheel chocks in front of both front tires.
3. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on the ground, but do not remove.
4. Apply penetrating oil to all control arm mounting bolts and allow to soak for at least 30 minutes (preferably overnight).

Procedure

1. 1

   Raise and support the vehicle
   Raise the rear of the vehicle using a floor jack positioned under the rear axle differential housing. Lift until the rear tires are approximately 6 inches off the ground. Place jack stands under the frame rails just forward of the rear axle, ensuring they are on solid frame metal. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands while keeping the floor jack in position under the differential to support the axle weight.
2. 2

   Remove rear wheels
   Completely remove the lug nuts and pull both rear wheels off the axle. Set wheels aside in a safe location.
3. 3

   Identify control arm configuration
   Verify the rear suspension type. A leaf-spring 1972 F-100 locates the rear axle via leaf springs and U-bolts and has no rear control arms; if so, this procedure does not apply. The 1972 F-100 uses a leaf-spring rear suspension, which does NOT use rear control arms or trailing arms. Verify the actual suspension configuration before proceeding — if this truck has leaf springs, there are no rear control arm bushings and this procedure does not apply. Each arm has a bushing at the frame mount and typically a bushing or bolt at the axle mount. Inspect all bushings for cracking, separation, or excessive play to determine which need replacement.
4. 4

   Support axle for control arm removal
   Adjust the floor jack under the differential to bear approximately 50% of the axle weight, allowing the suspension to droop slightly but preventing the axle from dropping suddenly when control arms are disconnected. The axle must remain stable throughout this procedure.
5. 5

   Remove upper control arm frame bolt (driver side)
   Using the correct socket size for the fastener (verify against the actual bolt) and a breaker bar, remove the bolt securing the driver side upper control arm to the frame bracket. The bolt passes through the bushing and frame mount. You may need to hold the nut on the opposite side with a wrench. Once loosened, remove the bolt, nut, and any washers. Note the orientation of washers and hardware for reassembly.
6. 6

   Remove upper control arm axle bolt (driver side)
   Remove the bolt securing the forward end of the upper control arm to the axle housing bracket using a 3/4 inch socket. Support the control arm as you remove the bolt to prevent it from dropping. Remove the arm from the vehicle.
7. 7

   Press out old bushing from upper control arm
   Using a hydraulic press or bushing press kit with appropriate adapters, press the old rubber bushing out of the control arm eye. Position the arm so the bushing can be pressed straight through without binding. If using a C-clamp press kit, use a socket slightly smaller than the bushing outer diameter to push against the bushing, and a socket slightly larger than the outer diameter to receive it on the opposite side.
8. 8

   Clean control arm and inspect
   Wire brush the bushing bore in the control arm to remove rust, old rubber fragments, and corrosion. Inspect the control arm for cracks, bends, or damage. If the arm is bent or cracked, it must be replaced rather than re-bushed.
9. 9

   Install new bushing into upper control arm
   Apply a thin coat of dish soap or bushing lubricant to the outer sleeve of the new bushing. Position the bushing squarely in the control arm bore and press it in using the hydraulic press or C-clamp kit. Ensure the bushing is centered and pressed in until it is flush or slightly recessed per the bushing manufacturer's specifications (typically flush with both sides of the arm eye).
10. 10

    Reinstall upper control arm (driver side)
    Position the control arm back into place between the frame bracket and axle bracket. Insert the axle-end bolt first, threading the nut on loosely (hand-tight only). Then install the frame-end bolt with washers in their original orientation and thread the nut on hand-tight. Do not torque any fasteners yet.
11. 11

    Repeat for remaining control arms
    Repeat steps 5 through 10 for the driver side lower control arm, then both passenger side upper and lower control arms. Work on one arm at a time to maintain axle stability. Always keep the floor jack supporting the differential throughout the process.
12. 12

    Load suspension to ride height
    With all control arms loosely installed, raise the floor jack under the differential to bring the rear suspension to normal ride height (rear axle approximately in the position it occupies when the vehicle is sitting on the ground with normal load). This is critical because control arm bushings must be torqued at ride height to prevent binding and premature failure.
13. 13

    Torque all control arm fasteners
    With the suspension at ride height, torque all 8 control arm bolts (4 frame-end, 4 axle-end) to the proper specification. Torque in a cross pattern (driver upper, passenger lower, passenger upper, driver lower). Torque specification must be verified against the factory service manual for this specific vehicle and the actual fasteners present before tightening.
14. 14

    Reinstall wheels and lower vehicle
    Reinstall both rear wheels and thread lug nuts on hand-tight. Raise the vehicle slightly with the floor jack to unload the jack stands, then remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle completely to the ground. Torque the lug nuts to the factory-specified value for the 1972 F-100 (verify in service manual) in a star pattern.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all control arm bolts are torqued with the suspension at ride height, not while the axle is hanging free.
2. Double-check that no tools or parts have been left under the vehicle before the first test drive.
3. Verify that all fasteners have been properly torqued and that no hardware was omitted during reassembly.

Verification

• Start the vehicle and carefully drive forward and backward a few feet, listening for any clunks or unusual noises from the rear suspension.
• Perform a test drive on a smooth road at low speed (under 25 mph) to verify there are no vibrations, clunking, or handling issues.
• After the first 50-100 miles, re-torque all control arm fasteners to specification to account for bushing settling.
• Schedule a professional alignment check, as control arm bushing replacement can affect rear axle pinion angle and overall alignment.

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