Milano Front A-Arm Bushings

["Coddington, Ronald C" <RCoddington@domain.elided>]

OK . . . OK . . . I know I am milking all you guys for information, but you
are a pretty knowledgeable group.  So here I am again, looking for some
input.

Over the Christmas holiday I would like to replace the bushings in the lower
A-arms on my Milano (130k miles).  On at least one side I can see that the
A-arm at the torsion bar end is not concentric with the adjacent structure
which indicates to me that the bushing is shot.
Wiggles at this inboard end will translate into uncommanded direction
changes at the wheel, which we can do without.   

So, without any special Alfa tools (like the nifty screw-in pressing tool
that I see in the manual or any other special tools) can I de-torque the
torsion bars, remove the A-arms, press out the old bushings and press in
new, etc?  The most challenging part seems to be the removal/reinstall of
the bushings themselves.  Can a conventional two-jaw or three-jaw puller
perform this function using an appropriately sized block of steel to push
the bushing with?  Or is the Alfa tool absolutely essential?  Do I torch out
the rubber then cut out the old bushings ala the 164 rear arm process
discussed here recently?

Do I purchase the stock replacement bushings or are there any of those neat
urethane ones available for this application?   

I am a fairly innovative shade tree mechanic with little fear of tackling
challenging jobs, and my knuckles have pretty much healed from the last
project but some advance warning of pitfalls on this one would be helpful.

Thanks again for your assistance.  And in the unlikely possibility that I do
not post again to the digest, a very merry Christmas and the best of New
Years to all.     

Regards,
Ron Coddington
'69 1750 GTV
'79 Alfetta GT
'87 Tail High Milano
 

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