Energy Bushing Install?

[bb4_96]

Whats the best way to press the new bushings into the arms and knuckles? I can't get the bushing to stay square without the steel insert and it just mushrooms with it in.

[NINJASPY]

hard to understand what you are trying to say.

I've had luck with pressing bushing in first, then putting the steel insert in afterwards. Lots of grease everywhere.

[bb4_96]

When I try to press the bushing in by itself without the steel sleeve one side of the bushing slips in before the other then it won't press all the way in when its crooked.

[shiftdrift]

lots of grease and use a press.

[clark]

yeah you can use grease, don't think it will affect the urethane material.

[Shadowhunter]

It's a pain in the ass, I took mine to a shop, costs like 40 bucks. I would reccomend a press if you don't have access to one like myself going to a shop may be the least frustrating option.

[KA24sleeper]

lots of grease and use a press.

Exactly....

[ManoNegra]

lots of grease and use a press.

that and patience

[bb4_96]

I'll stop by the shop tonight and try the press. Lol I was try to pull press with a nut and bolt and washers. Hopefully it will be easier to get the new bushings in then it was to get the old sleeves out. Anybody interested in a writeup? I found a decent trick to get the sleeves out.

[Ares240SX]

To get my sleeves out I cut through the sleeve using a sawzall to release the tension, than tapped it out using a small air hammer with a chisel insert. Worked great and took only about 30 seconds or so. Getting the new bushings in however. Not always as easy of a task.

[cleantune]

....also maybe a piece of wood on top of the bushing, then use a big hammer? I dunno I saw someone that did this to install 300zx subframe bushings on a 240

..... bb4_96 how did you get the sleeves out?

[bb4_96]

Like dude said above my post. Get a sawzall. Except instead of cutting all the way through the sleeve and damaging the arm I'd cut about 75% through in two places about 1/4" apart then hit the narrow "slice" you made with a chisel and hammer to drive it out. It should just "peel" out. That way you don't risk cutting up your suspension arm.

IMO Don't try to press the steel sleeves out. My arm wound up distorting, however I've seen other people successfully press them out. Guess mine were just really stuck. Regardless I wouldn't reccomend it.

[ranger240]

if anyone watches 'wheeler dealers' that british car fix-up show (its on youtube), the guy Edd used the best method ever to get bushings in.

get a stud (long threaded rod, like a bolt without the head) some big diameter washers and two nuts

assemble as follows on the rod:

nut, washer, suspension arm, bushing piece, washer, nut

its then a matter of just screwing the nuts together

haven't tried this in person, i only saw it on that show. it looked MUCH easier than the stupid rubber mallet i used to cram in my ES T/C rod bushings




if that makes sense and helps you out... awesome.

[s14canyoncity]

lots of grease and use a press.

that and patience

X2 just take your time

if anyone watches 'wheeler dealers' that british car fix-up show (its on youtube), the guy Edd used the best method ever to get bushings in.
get a stud (long threaded rod, like a bolt without the head) some big diameter washers and two nuts
assemble as follows on the rod:
nut, washer, suspension arm, bushing piece, washer, nut
its then a matter of just screwing the nuts together.

exactly what i did when i replaced the bushings .

[shiftdrift]

if you have a equal size metal "solid piece" idk what they're called you can put it on top of it and use the press and it will be easier then just using the press.

[96Turbo]

i used a hot razor blade and just cut the urethane bushings in half. Grease em up, slide in from both sides, and insert the sleeve. piece o cake

[Giebs]

It sounded like he already got the old ones out and he needs the new ones in...

I used a bolt with some washers as a press. If one side pokes out, put some pressure on it (hand or pliers) and continue tightening the bolt and it will work its way in.

[96Turbo]

yea, i mean cut the new bushings in half in the radial direction so that you can slide them in from each side. this way you don't have to worry about getting the lip on the new bushing forced into the sleeve.

[bb4_96]

^^ That actually doesn't sound like a half bad idea. Have you had any problems with that?