I buddy with a 20 ton press.. I just got my hardrace bushing kit and need advice on what tools i will need to make pressing out the old bushings and pressing in the new bushings done the quickest and right way..

 

Whatever round metal parts that match the bushing sleeve diameters should work. Impact sockets are usually the easiest.

 

QFT
The single most versatile tool you have at your disposal is the 32mm socket for your axles. Honestly i have found like 20 uses for that thing.

 

I wish I knew someone with a press >.< right now im at the point where i just have to take all my control arms down someone and pay to get em pressed. Ive read of all the ghetto ways you can get them out which would be fine for one bushing.. but not -all- of them.

Socket is def the best way to get with the press

 

I tried pressing my stock rear LCA bushings with my big bench vise and a socket - just wasn't happening. I took all my stuff off and took it to a shop and paid $120 to get them pressed in. Worth it IMHO.

 

yeah thats where im at right now. its funny they quoted me exactly that, $120

 

For the record I did not get my UCA bushings or rear LCA bushings done, since I have new OEM front UCA's and F7 rear LCA's. I got the trailing arms, rear upper arms, rear compensator arms, and front LCA's all done up with the HardRace bushings.

I did cut out the middle portion of one of my OEM LCA bushings, and then got the metal sleeve out using a hack saw. Then I tried freezing the new HardRace bushing and tapping it in, but it still wouldn't go in. I still have not tried heating the LCA and then dropping the frozen bushing in place. If I ever have to go back to OEM LCA's I'll probably try that - remove old bushings and then heat the arms in the oven and tapping the frozen bushings in place. Hopefully that might work.

 

Where in IL are you? I can do them easily and quickly.

 

various sockets that match the outer sleeve the best is how i did it. i also used an exhaust reducer/ adapter so i didnt bend my camber or toe arms(used it on the back side around where the bushing presses in if that makes sense lol)

i had to heat one bushing in the right front control arm iirc, it was flexing the 20ton press at work and just would not budge.

also, lots of lube helps, such as BG inforce(what i used doing mine), or wd40, pbblaster, anything like that lol.

 

im about 40 mins south of the city in the subs. Shoot me a message if your close by

 

It possibly could save you some money if you remove the old bushings first.

Not the eaiset to do, but you get to play with fire. Then just hack saw the ring, and pound it out.

When we did my friend ES bushings, the press just couldn't budge the metal ring. (we burned the old bushing Out)

We ended up cutting the rings, in 2 places. 1 at the top,1 at the bottom. Then we were able to pop them out with the press. We used a 10 ton.

 

I just pressed the middle portion of my bushings out with a smaller socket (no gas bottle ready for torch) and then used a hack saw in 2 places about 1/4" apart from each other. The sleeve basically just fell right out.

 

yeah this stuff is fine if your doing one, but for all 4 control arms.. hell no lmao