Has anyone ever used a ball joint c-clamp press to press out and in suspension bushings?

I always see people talk about a 12 ton press etc but never have seen if anyone has ever used the ball joint kit with some custom adapters (impact sockets?) and a receiver cup large enough for the bushing to do the pressing.

Anyone ever see or tried this?

 

I did a lower ball joint yesterday with a HF c-clamp press.


To pres the old one out you DO need the Honda adapter kit. The knuckle gets in the way.



That said, hammer the ****** out instead.



It was AWESOME for pressing the new OEM ball joint in. I applied a VERY thin layer of anti-seize to the inside of the knuckle and it pressed right in. I used NO adapter on the open end of the clamp and set it on the top of the ball joint. I used both adapter plates and the smallest receiving cup ad it pressed in like butter with an impact gun on the clamp.

 

I misunderstood.... BUT there are DEFINITELY large enough receiver cups to do it. Maybe not the RTA bushings but the rest should be small enough.

Pro Tip: I lubed the screw shaft with Dupont Teflon Multi-Purpose lube. Definitely made a difference in how smooth it screwed in.

 

I had a custom tool made to use in my shop press specifically for the front LCA bushings. I was thinking of having a new design made that was hollow to allow it to be used in those bearing presses that use the threaded rod. My experience has been those bushings are in there so tight, I had a tough time with a cheap 12 ton bottle jack. I converted my press to a 20 ton pneumatic jack and it's like butter. I'm sure the current design would work with the c-clamp type, but as I said, it will take a lot of pressure to pop those puppies.





Front LCA bushing tool

 

What material would you suggest it be made from to be hollow yet strong enough to press successfully?

 

Not sure. I told the machine shop what I was using the part for before they made it. I suspect it's some hardened steel. If I have them do the hollow version (I don't have a lathe, yet) I'll let them decide again. The black steel used in all the bearing presses and ball joint presses seems to be sufficient.

The only con to the tool I have now is that it's flat on each end and will not fit over the end of the stock bushing to press it out. You have to use a hole saw and remove the inner bushing first, then the tool will press out the remaining metal sleeve. I use a large socket to press them back in. The pro for this tool is the 3mm lip that auto-centers the tool for a straight press.