Install Control arm bushings without a press?

[siggyfreud]

Anyone have a good way to install control arm bushings without a press? If not I'll either take them up to Schwabs, or buy the $129 harbor freight 12-ton press, as I imagine they'll charge me an hour labor at least at schwabbies which will be 80-something.

[jayoldschool]

Don't know if it will help, but I just did bushings on a VW with this tool I made for five bucks:



7/16th rod, 1" spacers, washer, nut. Put bushing in place, stack the spacers, put on the washers and nuts, crank, bushing gets pulled in.

[Tx Firefighter]

They screw in with a giant wrench or socket. No press needed.

[siggyfreud]

I swapped the front from stock to an 85, and both uppers and lowers on it are press in it appears.

[jtrichard]

rubber pressed in.... hard parts (grease able) screwed in

[siggyfreud]

Perhaps I'm missing something then, as this is the lower bushing, and the upper looks pretty much the same, but smaller. And here is the LCA.

[jtrichard]

those are the rubber type and yes they press in... and when you put the arms back in don't tighten them up until you have the truck weight back on the ground

[jayoldschool]

My setup should work for that type. Pretty much the same as the VW rear control arm. I had to use that because my ball joint tool wasn't wide enough with the spacers I needed. You wouldn't need the spacers with the big holes, the VW bush has a part that sticks out in the middle. Make a tool, worst case, you're out five dollars.

[siggyfreud]

Sounds good. I'll grab some rod and washers/nuts tomorrow and give it a whirl.

Thanks all.