Porsche 914 A arm Bushing Install

Are your A-arm bushing tired and out-of-round? Install these bushings from 914rubber.com and get the OEM quality ride back!
Please keep in mind that I'm not a professional mechanic and no video can replace proper experience. Don't attempt this work if you're not confident in your abilities. If you found this video helpful, please leave a comment or give it a thumbs up. Be safe and enjoy!

[@IanKarr]

Thanks so much for watching. If you like these videos, please give a 👍, subscribe and hit the 🔔 . I make these videos alone in my garage and your subcriptions motivate me to keep making them. I try to answer all comments quickly. Be safe and enjoy the addiction!

[@jhynesrockmtn]

Ian, thanks so much for the videos! I'm doing this right now on my Bumblebee. A comment I hope others find helpful. I found the bushings want to separate from the carrier a bit as they get close to the stop. I used a bit more soap in the gap as it tightens up. I also vise gripped the 1st end and left the rod assembly in place overnight so doing one per day. When I didn't do this, the bushing started bulging out of the carrier. Your videos are guiding me through putting this car back together so thanks again!

[@IanKarr]

Glad you’re finding the videos helpful!

[@jhynesrockmtn]

@@IanKarr 1st one took half a day it felt like. Did the 2nd in about 30 minutes 🤣

[@jimohara4796]

Ian, I have a 73 914 2.0 that's in storage while I raise my kids. I really enjoy watching your videos as way staying in touch with the car, even though it's currently buried in a storage locker 45 minutes away. Please keep posting these how-to videos - they are not only instructional but therapeutic for those of us without access to our 914s!

[@IanKarr]

Thanks, Jim. Glad you're enjoying the videos. Lots more to come. I've been slowed up a bit since I moved my garage and life has been hectic to say the least...but there are plenty in the pipeline!

[@JF-4444]

A very helpful video! I wish your videos were available 12 years ago when I did this job. 914 Rubber rocks! I used many of their products on my cars with great results.

[@IanKarr]

Thanks for watching. Lots more coming, so please subscribe!

[@Lierofox]

My front suspension started squeaking earlier this year on my project 914, took a peek and sure enough it was the bushings. Thanks a bunch for the videos!

[@IanKarr]

Lierofox glad you found them helpful!

[@Tmrfe0962]

Ian, another great video...thanks! Love watching your attention to detail and that way you heated the bearing. (I mean bushing) lol....

[@IanKarr]

Ha! Thanks TJ!

[@meaaaaaculpa]

Very helpful. Thanks for documenting!

[@IanKarr]

Good luck with the project. Definitely worthwhile.

[@sstoess1]

Thanks Ian. Great vid!

[@IanKarr]

Thanks for watching!

[@joshall4]

Ian, I have no need to install A arm bushings (as of right now) but I found myself watching the video for the last 20 minutes out of intrigue. Great content and hopefully these videos catch on. I know that I'll be using them when I start tearing into my 914.

[@IanKarr]

Thanks, Jos. These cars are fun to drive...and wrench on. go for it! Happy to help if you have any questions...or suggestions for a video.

[@jockellis]

My bushing installation came in this week. Time to get busy.

[@IanKarr]

hope it turned out well...

[@frankspurfeld5073]

Hi Ian, nice video! Just ordered the A-Arm bushing kit from 914rubber and the bushings seem to be very hard, did you drive your 914 meanwhile and if so, does it drive like stock or is it much firmer? Just asking because I have firmer than stock bushings installed now which I don't like since they are to firm and car is bouncing in turns on bumby roads. This was not the case with the stock bushings. Thanks for posting the video!

[@IanKarr]

I'm not really sure what "stock" feels like, since the bushings in my car were so worn. It's definitely a firmer ride that it was before. I also installed Bilstein sports on all 4 corners, so tough to tell which component is having the most effect. Net-net, I like how the car handles now.

[@bobshook3544]

Love the video. Thank you for being so thorough, and for posting this. One Q: Would cooling the rubber bushing (put it in the freezer for a while) help to make it go on the control arm easier? My understanding is rubber, unlike metal, contracts rather than expands with heat, which would make installation of the bushing more difficult after heating it. Or is my thinking way off here? Thanks!

[@IanKarr]

Thanks Bob. It would be interesting to test that. Heating the rubber in this case is more about making it softer and more pliable so it stretches over the A-arm.

[@jockellis]

Got another question: did you get the installation kit from the place you talk about and about what did it cost? Also, if you had needed to go buy a threaded rod what size and length would you have bought?

[@IanKarr]

Yes, this kit came from 914rubber.com Check their site for pricing. I used M12 threaded rod and cut it to 30" for this install. Be safe and good luck!

[@jockellis]

Wish you had shown your vise but I certainly enjoy your instructions. You are going to have a fortune in your 914, aren’t you? Since I have to do all the same things, so will I.

[@IanKarr]

jockellis my vice isn’t anything special. Just your average bench top one. One of the nice things about 914s is most of the parts are very reasonable. It’s rust repair that gets crazy...

[@jockellis]

Ian Karr I bought two 914s. One is named Rusty. The other is named Rustier. I’ve already spent more on the underside than I paid for my new 914 in 1973 (please don’t tell my wife) and there are several places like rear trunk floor and front and rear firewall that need replacing. I went to welding school to learn to do this to save money. You are correct in that the parts are not to expensive but the welding makes up for that. In welding school I had to get two angle grinders so these come in handy plus I’ve found a Shopsmith thing for the grinder which really takes off the paint in a hurry. All that plus videos like yours that I’ve found on KZbin allowed me to make my New Years Resolution to really get to work on the car. Thanks.

[@jockellis]

Also, where does one get the indexable spirit level?

[@IanKarr]

jockellis I think I got mine at Home Depot. Or amazon. Smartphones also have level apps which will get you close

[@jockellis]

Ian Karr thanks. I’ve got the level on my iPhone so I’ll try that first.

[@Laserdoc905]

Could having a worn bushing cause road noise when veering in one direction while driving? Enjoying your videos.. Thanks Sean

[@IanKarr]

Sean T Thanks! Noise when steering sounds more like a wheel bearing. Bad bushings are more likely to make noise over bumps or up and down travel. But tough to tell for sure without hearing/driving/inspecting.

[@Laserdoc905]

@@IanKarr Thanks Ian, I have lots of time to diagnosis nowadays. Ill check those out first...

[@fernandoramos9829]

Ian, I have a question. Was comparing angles to your video. Just removed control arms and I get 38 degrees front and 24 degrees rear, other side 41 and 26. Wondering why mine are so far off. What should I do on the install?

[@IanKarr]

Hmm. It's possible that the worn bushings allowed the carriers to be tweaked when you pulled them off the car. Bottom line is that they only go on one way. If everything bolts up, you should be good. The only reason I indexed them on the bench was so I could get them in the ballpark position so I wouldn't have to muscle them under the car. The new bushings are really tight, so it helps to have them close to where they need to be.

[@914werke]

Since the Carriers are simply stamped steel then welded what was done to ensure their Id was round to begin with?

[@IanKarr]

I guess the factory had a spec?

[@andrewreisinger2008]

Hi ian, I'm currently replacing the bushings on my own 914. But I have what look to be brass and caps on the forward end of the control arm. How are these dealt with .if you know. They are not detailed in my clymer, and not referenced in your video. Any light you could shed would be appreciated.

[@IanKarr]

Do you mean the pressed-in disc that covers the hole in front? If so, you pop them out by putting a length of rod or pipe through the arm so it touches the cap, then just hit the end of the rod till it pops.

[@andrewreisinger2008]

I was hoping that was the case, 😊, do they go back in?

[@IanKarr]

andrew reisinger yep. Just tap em in with a light touch from a hammer.

[@andrewreisinger2008]

Thanx again, your videos have been a great resource. I have watched them all, and find your approach compelling.lots of dyi vids out there, but your approach is no nonsense. Thanx for responding. And keep up the good work. Can't wait to see the bumblebees finished.

[@IanKarr]

@@andrewreisinger2008 Thanks so much for the kind words, Andrew. My wife would say I'm full of nonsense, so I'm glad that doesn't show up in my videos ;) More to come on the bumblebee. I can't wait to see it finished, either. It's a bit of a rabbit hole at the moment...