would this shop press be sufficient to press in/out all suspesnion bushings on the lower control arms, and good enough to press in/out bearings on the front hub/knuckle? http://www.harborfreight.com/c...=1666

I know that for the rear lower control arms, its more cost effective for me to buy new control arms with the bushigns already in them--buying the bushings seperate is almost as much as buying the whole arm.

For the front LCA, I would need a press for the inner/subframe and lower shock bushing. I could also use a press for the rear trailing arm bushings, as well as the little rubber bushings on the toe/compensator arm, and the front and rear upper arms. And of course for wheel bearings, and wheel studs. I dont think the front lower ball joint can be pressed, it uses a special tool (a glorified c-clamp).

If you have any other suggestions for a shop press, let me know. I would think the harbor freight ones are at least decent enough, and they are local to me so I could save on shipping from odering online. Thanks in advance.

 

That press is fine. I used one similar, but homemade.

 

check and see how much travel that one has... I believe they have a similarly priced 6-ton square frame one that has more travel. Might be needed to fit thicker things in like control arms.

 

Can you press bearings into the front knuckle?
I thought that I read somewhere that you have to replace the knuckle if you want to replace the bearings. True or False

 

I don't think that'll have enough clearance to press out a front hub, unless you build a jig for it. I used to have:

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...33497

I now have this:

http://www.northerntool.com/we...R=604

The Arcan model is vastly superior. Not nearly the best I've seen, but the Harbor Freight model wasn't large enough for a hub to fit between the runners in the press "deck." A Prelude hub fits fine between the runners in the "deck" on the Arcan model. The Arcan frame is also welded so the it doesn't tweak like the Harbor Freight model does. I used the Harbor Freight model to press bushings out, and the frame would tweak so bad that the press would rock back and forth! Granted that could have been fixed by welding the frame, but I didn't feel like trying to polish a turd, it would have still been a turd.

I've been very happy with the Arcan. I had some different dies machined to fit it, but otherwise it's been perfect. I'd like to have an air press, but it's no big deal with the hand pump.

 

wow... not bad for 99 bucks

http://www.northerntool.com/we...21029

 

The 20 ton one is what I have used for bearings and assorted bushings. I found it effective but would not want to get one smaller or with lower tonnage.

 

I use the vise to press in and out my control arm bushings
Wheel bearings require one with a little more travel

 

I bought that $100 northern tool one and donated it to a shop in town with the "if I need to use it here, I can" clause. They have used it for their needs for over 6 months and there hasn't been anything it hasn't "pressed"

-Tom

 

I had the 12-ton HF press and I definitely wouldn't want to use anything smaller for bushings.

 

The Harbor Freight Press works just fine... I bought one last Christmas in a fit of frustration when I could not find anyone close by that could press in some Hub Bearings at short notice. We've used it about 20 times now for various jobs and I figure it has more than paid for itself already.
Some of the Harbor Freight stuff is just junk... But some of it does the job, and if it does the job 3 or 4 times then it's worth the cost.
Actually some of their heavy equipment, Presses, Pipe benders, and stuff that you dont use very often, but it's always a panic when you do need it are fairly good value. There's not much you can't buy at Harbor Freight if you have $200.00 in your pocket.

Kiwi

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C5 EH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can you press bearings into the front knuckle?
I thought that I read somewhere that you have to replace the knuckle if you want to replace the bearings. True or False</TD></TR></TABLE>


FALSE.

You can press new bearings into the front knuckle. We replace all our Wheel bearings at least twice per season. About $70.00 for the bearings.

Kiwi

 

i've got the exact press you pictured from Harbor Freight.it won't do front hub bearings.the bigger press pictured should work no problem.
i ended up using a puller type mechanism to slide the hub off the inner sleeve.actually worked very well.then used a bearing press and large hammer to put it all back together.
Chris

 

I have used the 12 ton one on my knucles several times. I also used it to press differential carrier bearings on too. The key to using these presses is keeping the piece level while pressing in and out.

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...33497

 

I think i posted too fast, the one I linked has a rather small opening. That northerntool one looks great, but how is shipping, rather freight with an item this large? Thanks for all the input guys.

My local community college has presses (huge ones that run off shop air and whatnot) that I could use at anytime (during normal hours), but itd be nice to have one at home.

I guess anohter question I have is about tool and die sets, like all the large sockets/cups/etc and what not i'd need to press in/out the most common things on a 94 civic.

edit: woah, ok that arcan one, the 20 tonner, is $329....umm anything under $200 that'll do? I know I shouldn't skimp out on the press, but i assume they all generally work the same. If I had a welder and knew how to weld, maybe I'd build my own if its possible.

 

I just ordered the $99 Northern Tool one, shipping was $100 using the regular shipping

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Super79Dave &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I use the vise to press in and out my control arm bushings
Wheel bearings require one with a little more travel</TD></TR></TABLE>
+1

 

bench vises can get up there in price as well, and in my opinion, its not always practical to have to hold things 'up' where as on a shop press its laying down.

 

Wheel bearings, wheel hub, extended lugs ==
Works great w/ the included arbor plates. Super easy to do.

You cant use it completely for a countershaft disassembly. The countershaft will not fit in between the crossbeam. Although the bearing puller/splitter for another $30 or so from HF does that just fine!

 

shoot me a PM.
Or look online. There is currently a 20% off coupon on the harbor freight stores.
I had a 12 ton, wouldnt take anything less. Even the 12 sucked to get some parts in.

 

any thoughts on this? yes i know its a 20T so it should be ok, but the construction otherwise in terms of size and shape, any thoughts?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=97022

 

I'd go measure it and see if a hub will fit between the runners on the bed. If not, you'll have a very hard time doing wheel bearings with it.

 

I'm really surprise with the frequency of replacement of your front bearing. When I run the civic, I replaced the rear every year and the front only twice for over 3 years I ran. One of the replacement is because of accident.

 

The harbor freight 12-ton works well enough for mostly all you need it for, what i didnt like about it is the fact it would start to flex and move around since it stays together with nuts/bolts. What i did was i welded the whole thing together, and built a better base for it. ive had it for 2 yrs and has since payed for itself. do i regret not going with the 20ton, at first i did because of how flimsy the 12ton got under load, but i dont after doing the modifications to the 12ton. So if your not going to be doing anything big which requires space the 12ton works, but if you need more space and pressure, the 20ton for the win.