All Mechanics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

Question

i need some advice, i have got the 4 bushings out, of the upper and lower control arm, but now need to get the new ones in, how is this done in a workshop and how can this be done in a shed, thanks in advance, and its a chevrolet camaro 1979, i dont really want to take it to a garage, can it be done DIY style, thanks

Answer 1

Shops use a hydraulic press to push them into place. If you're going to be doing much suspension work even a workbench size press is pretty handy to have in the home shop but you can improvise one with an inexpensive hydraulic jack pushing against an immovable object or lets say relatively immovable like an overhanging rock surface or maybe a heavy truck frame surface.

You'll need a socket or a piece of round stock of slightly smaller diamater than the bearing to push on the bearing edge.

What you don't want to do is use a big hammer and try to drive the bearing into place as this will generally result in damage to the bearing or the control arm plus its quite embasrrassing to bring the evidence to the corner garage and have to say something like "that s the last time I let cousin Lenny help me..."

Good luck and I admire your spirit of having a go at it out in the garage.

Answer 2

hi there either as has been suggested by using a press if not ensure that the inside of the arm where the bush will go and the outside of the bush have been roughed up with sand paper then apply plenty of grease, find a socket that fits the metal sleave of the bush and use a large G clamp to slowly wind the bush in to place, you might need a bigger socket on the other end to allow the bush to go all the way home try to avoid hammering as this can break the rubber of the bush free from the sleave and cause premature wear

Answer 3

Man-i cant believe all these answers-they will all work and grease is ok but not needed as long as all rust is sanded off just dont get it on the rubber.I just clamp the control arm in a vise as close to the bushing hole as possible and drive them out and in with a flat bit on my air chisel or a socket and a 3 pound sledge.You guys are making this much more difficult than it really is.I say try them all and use whatever works best for you.

Answer 4

Easiest thing is to take your arms & bushings to a shop & have them press them in.
It's usually cheap & done quick.

Easiest,safest shadetree method is :
*Find "something" which will Shoulder on the Outer Bushing shell,,,,a piece of Pipe,,or a 2" pipe Fitting.

*Get a BIG Bolt--3/4" or whatever biggest you can find.
"All-Thread Rod" is usually best bet.

*And some washers & nuts

-put bushing in place
-assemble Bolt thru it
-place washers on "Arm side" and the Pipe Fitting on Bushing
-Start cranking on the nuts to squeeze it together

Grease the Threads,,and the Nuts/Washers well so they dont gall from the load


I dont do that unless I HAVE TO,,,,,and I do my best to a avoid using such a puller.

But,,,it does work
.....................................
Current world market Metals Pricing,,,mutliplied by Energy Pricing has got STEEL Prices at record highs.

That has got the Retail Prices of Nuts/Bolts,etc very high also.
Especially LARGE stuff.

That may all seem like a Goofy comment to make ,,re:your question,,,
But the point is,if You have to go Buy the Hardware to make a Puller(installer),,,,
the cost can be Very Near what it costs to have a Shop press them in.

.........................................
My "favorite" Fred Flintstone method is to make a Giant pair of pliers.
If you have a couple of 8' 4x4 boards.......
and a piece of chain .....
Make a loop around One end of the 2 boards to create a Pivot Link.--adjust the slack as necessary.

"Pinch" the Bushings into place by placing the Arm/Bushing
in the "V" of the Giant Pliers.

Start the Bushing with a few taps of a hammer around Outer Shell.

"SHIM" the Bushing with something so the Load is applied to ONLY outer Shell.

Sounds Stupid,,,I myself am laffing too.
You'll laff even harder if ya ever TRY That and see how slick and easy it presses the Bushings into place.

Same mechanical principle as a "Crab Claw cracker/Nut Cracker"

http://www.topfoodservice.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/TTIO008A.JPG

...................................................
Be EXTRA CAREFUL any time rigging-up/Using homemade crap.
It can slip,shift,snap,etc.
As Cheesey as it LOOKS,,,it generates a tremendous amount of force.

If ya Rig something up,,,make certain its as Solid as you can.
Dont risk your personal safety

Good Luck,,,and Be Careful

**Most of all,,Seriously Consider paying somebody a few bucks to squeeze 'em in----that's safest and most practical solution.
Most times You'll come out ahead going that route.

Answer 5

You want some M10 threaded rod, large washers and nuts. Place the bush on the threaded rod then two washers and a nut. Push the threaded rod and the bush up to the aperture where the bush requires fitting. Place two washers and a nut on the opposite side from the bush, tighten, making sure that the bush is in alignment with the hole, keep tightening till the bush is in place. Hope this helps otherwise you'll need a press and a professional to fit them but I have used this technique for many years and it works.

Answer 6

Really depends on how much pressure is require to push the new bushes in

If not much you might be able to do this in a bench vise if not then a hydraulic press that you are unlikely to own

If you need a press then take the stripped out components and the new bushes to a local garage and ask them to simply press them in. Should not cost very much

Answer 7

You will need to have the new bushings put in with a hydraulic press. Not commonly a DIY job unless you have the proper tools. At this point of your job being you already have the old bushings removed, you probably wont be able to drive it, so you will need to remove the control arms and take them to a reputable shop that has a hydraulic press.

Answer 8

your pissing about with something that will affect your steering. so roll your sleeves up and have a good hard long look. no second guessing 1 shot 1 go! with the proper tools it can be done diy style, when i was 16 i had to rebuild a mark 2 ford escort for grading off course i passed but it was never road worthy! how much do you trust your own mechanical skills? if not up to scratch give it to the pros. anyway a 79 chevvy good training tool for trade kids 3 months you got yourself a new car more or less.

Answer 9

Try a large vice and a socket on the side that the bush will eventually come out of, grease the bush up and it should slide in when you tighten the vice. although, a press would be the best thing to use.

Answer 10

You need a PRESS. to press the bushing into the cast iron arms smoothly.

I usually take my new bushings or bearings to a "Friend" who works at a gas-station type garage that does repairs on all makes of cars.

But you want to do it yourself? Make a press from a TWO TON bottle jack. (NOT A lift-jack = angular lifting force).
And a few pieces of steel I-beams welded into a rectangle. Use a few pieces of scrap iron pipe, or flat iron agains your bushings. Press the bushing upwards with the bottle jack , into the cast iron holes, the contol arm held against your iron rectangle.

I have seen homemade presses made by farmers, to work on their machines on the farm, and save money.

SEE THESE DIY PLANS:
http://www.synthx.com/btw/press1.htm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150175541250&ih=005&category=102486&ssPageName=STORE:PROMOBOX:NEWLIST

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150175541250&ih=005&category=102486&ssPageName=STORE:PROMOBOX:NEWLIST#ebayphotohosting

Everybody knows NOT to use grease and hit it with a hammer! You need TONS of even pressure force here! When I spend 20 to 58 euro for a bushing or bearing, I won't be hitting it with a hammer.