Stubborn front control arm bushing
 

Hoping you folks can help... very frustrated :(

I'm trying to press the smaller of the two bushings (frontmost bushing) into an early steel front control arm with no luck. Every time it just balloons out and won't budge.

My idea was to wrap the bushing in a small piece of sheetmetal squeezed tight with hose clamps, then push the bushing in with a socket via a vise. No luck - it still manages to squish out, preventing any movement.

Any of you have any tricks for doing this??? Thanks!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1125246846.jpg

Grease it up. It is hanging up because of sheer friction

What sort of grease would you use? Any type? I was using a ton of silicone lube to no avail. I also tried anti-freeze because I saw that in a post somewhere, but still no luck.

Yeah, I was thinking silicone or teflon lube. Not spray lube, but gel out of a tube or tub. Gasket safe is best so as to avoid the base that carries the silicone from eating the rubber.

BTW, what are you trying to use to press it in? Take it up to a Midas or someplace like that and have them finish pressing it with a 20 ton hydraulic press or something.

I'm just using a vise to press it in. I can get plenty of oomph on it, but then it just balloons out way over the tapered edge of control arm tube. Can't believe I've spent hours on this one little thing :(

They will balloon somewhat no matter how you try to press them in. You may not be able to get enough meat behind them to press them in with a vise though, hence the hydraulic press suggestion. If you watch them get pressed in they will balloon out a bit and then slowly the pressure will overcome the friction and they will slide/pop into place.

Oh, and depending on where you take the arm to get the busing pressed in it may only cost a 12 pack ;)

When I did mine a few months back, I used lots of vasoline on it, and the vise. As ballooned as it looks right now, you may need to push it back out a little (maybe all the way if its gone it that far dry), grease it up good, and go at it again. Any kind of grease should work. Good luck.

I think I used dish soap and it worked for me.

Got it! Thanks for all your help. Eventually went in with enough persuasion.