Quote:
Originally Posted by statik
For getting the old bushings out (assuming you have a press) it's really just a matter of thinking of ways to position each bushing in the upright vertically to press them out, the arms are pretty straight forward. The A arms, there is no way around it, you have to burn/cut them out, it sucks but it's gotta be done, you will see why when you look at the bushing.
As long as you have patience and take your time pressing the new bushings in is easier then getting them out as it doesn't take as much force, you could use a vice to hold them in place with a large enough press, and just use a flat head to help coax the large bushing ends in. Patience, time, and a clean work area (for when the greased up bushings fall while trying to press them in). Good luck, and take some pics  |
I love this thread, it has some great info for those planning on upgrading their bushings.. I'm on a huge bushing kick these days so here's some more stuff for this thread.. Maybe it'll help the guy doing bushings the first time who actually searches and finds this thread....
Regarding Energy Suspension bushings for the rear uprights..
You can use a ball joint press (toolkit) from Checkers to press out the old rubber bushings and press in the ES poly bushings... Instead of the burn/hacksaw method. It costs a $200 deposit to borrow it, plus you can install some new Sentra LCA ball joints at the same time. I haven't seen this method written in my searching so I thought I'd share... The ball joint c-clamp style press works great if you don't have access to a shop press... I used an electric impact, guess it would work alright with just a ratchet too.
Tips... When you press out the old bushings, try to find a long impact socket with a diameter just slightly smaller than the upright bushing bore diameter. Press this through the bushing bore, so you can press out the rubber bushing and metal sleeve at once and save yourself tons of time hacksawing (feel bad for you guys who do all bushings like that).
Next hurdle, to get the ES bushings in. It's damn near impossible to press the ES bushings in "normally". Take the metal pipes out of your bushings (3 per side) then cut the poly part in half, right through the middle (smallest) diameter. I used a superheated razor blade and vice grips to slice through them. If you're not a pyro then a jigsaw or sawsall or dremel would work nice too....
Now slip in one of the poly halves, just press on it with your finger until it gets cockeyed, then use a flatblade to straighten it out. It should drop it right in, so do the other side.... Get the metal pipe started, then use the C-Clamp to press it in fully. Make sure you have something solid on the other side otherwise you'll just press the other bushing half out.
Do the same process on all 6 bushings.... Put all the shit away, take the toolkit back to checkers and get your $200 back!
Congratulate yourself on a job well done with a cup of top of the line wine, carlos rossi!!