Most of the time when i work on my cars/truck i will take the easy road, but this is the one thing i will cheap out on. If you have the means, or like to learn how to do stuff i suggest just replacing the bushings.

Ive pressed bushings in/out on everything ive ever owned when they need replacement. I just cant see spending 10x the price on the whole control arm when it takes about 10 minutes a bushing to get them replaced. All ive ever used is my ball joint press, an air hammer, a little PB blaster, and sometimes some creative thinking.

Here's some inspiration:

 

i did my lowers on the truck as i could not get the bar free from the arm or key... ball joint press and control arm press and a small piece of exhaust tubing for a spacer... used ball joint press to remove center of bushing, hole saw to get the rubber out, and sawsall to cut bushing, squash it with some large pliers and its out... press in new with one of the presses and a cut piece of exhaust tube as a spacer.

 

I have a 96 2 WD that is in need of control arm bushings. I wondered what the press you were using consisted of. I appreciate the pictures and you give me some needed encouragement to go ahead and take it apart. It needs to be done!

 

The great tong about new cntrol arms is you get new ball joints as well. However I replaced my ball joints last year. One shop told me they had to burn the bushing out, evidently they are full of **** lol. I'm going to ask another shop, any ideas on pricing or what I should expect?