98civdx

Let us know how it goes! I am very interested in the PIC kit!!

Have fun, it can be a pain in the *** to press in bushings. lol

sumdewd

Pressing the bushings in and out was a pain in the ***, I will admit. The easiest way is to find someone with a giant bus/truck sized socket set. My dad used to be a bus technician back in the day and had a set so we had no problem finding the right size socket to press each bushing out with. Cheap way out, but it worked great.

Also, before anyone presses a bushing in or out, make sure the suspension arm/bushing/socket is completely straight and level while pressing. I looked away while pressing a bushing out and the socket flew out and tore a giant chunk out of my concrete garage floor and then hit the ceiling. Never again will I take my eyes off that press.

I also hammered my RTA bushing in and out. I couldn't fit the RTA into my 20ton HF press and keep it level while pressing.

98civdx

You managed to press them out with a HF 20 ton?

I tried for a while with mine, and I coulnd't get them to budge.

Dogginator

I'm using a MAPP gas torch to remove the rubber and then splitting the sleeve with a hack saw. My 10lb sledge is my press. I rented a balljoint sleeve set from AutoZone which supports the arms really well. I think that a 1" drive socket will work nicely for the driving due to the inner sleeve protrusion.

98civdx

That's exactly what I did to get mine out.

sumdewd

20 ton killed every bushing I could find with power to spare. It was more than enough. Only if I had it loaded wrong would it act like it couldn't do it. I actually broke a rear toe adjuster with that one socket flying incident. Luckily I had a parts car to scavenge from.

I tried the torching and cutting for like 3 bushings. It took an hour per bushing that way. When I found my dad's bus socket set I killed off each bushing in 5 minutes flat after each arm was pulled off of the car.. Well, except for the one that flew... If you have a friend who has a press and alot of sockets, it'd be easier to pay him in beer and pizza than to cut and burn them out and hammer them in. I got sick of the hammering after just the two RTA bushings. But that's just me, if you're up to it then have fun. Post pics of the bushing fires for us. Those were the funnest part of this bushing kit!

Local shop raped me for 30$ per item to be pressed back when I did bearings and lower balljoints on my old car before I knew better. It's always good to have a plan B in my opinion but check prices first.

Pics 'cause it happened

Edit: I'll include the garage floor damage in a few days when I move crap around to get to it.

Dogginator

Here's a question: which end goes up?

sumdewd

Now that's a good question... I'm not sure there is a correct up or down on that. Only that you make sure the dogbone is positioned correctly like when you removed the original bushing otherwise the suspension won't be relaxed with the car sitting.

Dogginator

The OEM ones were marked for up and down. These are not. There is definitely a difference in the PIC bushing. Perhaps I will call them and post results.

GagnarTheUnruly

iTrader: (3)

Doesn't matter as far as I could tell

Dogginator

I'll look at the OEM one and see if the top or bottom web is thicker.

Dogginator

So the thin web points up. I was holding it upside down in the picture.

Unfortunately these RTA bushings measure 3.2" and are too large (81.5mm vs 80mm).

Dogginator

Did you measure your's yet? An 81.5mm bushing makes no sense for any Honda. I'm calling PIC in a few minutes.

phunhaus

What are you measuring against? You do know the bushing is meant to "deform" as it's installed, right? The hole is tapered like the toe links.

Dogginator

I measured the OD with a Vernier caliper at several points both axially and angularly. It is not going to deform 1.5mm to fit into the 80mm hole. I first noticed the issue when the cup on the Schley 65100 tool slipped inside of the RTA bushing during the attempted installation.

98civdx

DA trailing arm bushings are larger then the others.

Dogginator

DA RTA bushings are 85mm. This is a manufacturing error.

GagnarTheUnruly

iTrader: (3)

Mine were fine. Light hammering was all it took to get them in and they are very secure.

phunhaus

I believe it will, especially if you've only measured the taped end of the hole.

98civdx

I didn't know that...


Have you tried putting them in yet? I'd rather it be slightly larger, then too small.

Dogginator

I tried. The Schley tool popped inside of the bushing due to the extra millimeter. The PIC bushings do not have paint to scrape away.

My advice is to measure them when you receive them.

98civdx

eh, that sucks. Good luck getting it taken care of.

phunhaus

Reading your posts in the ITR forum it sounds like a difference in trailing arms. Stupid ITRs,

98civdx

Matt, buy a torch! Just letting it burn takes for freaking ever.

Dogginator

Your RTA bushings fit? I bought Honda RTA bushings (52385-SR3-003), which pressed right in. I'll post issue of the size issue later.