Swapping Front End Bushings

[TLH101]

Is a 6 ton bench top press strong enough to remove and install, upper and lower control arm bushings.

 

[Jerry Hall]

Is a 6 ton bench top press strong enough to remove and install, upper and lower control arm bushings.

Yes, I would think so. It will depend on how much opening you have. I use a 10 ton L cheapo Harbor Freight press, that sits on the floor.

 

[TLH101]

I can borrow this small press, but if it won't work, I will need to buy a larger one. This looks like from the specs, may be too small.

• Working distance: 2 in. to 4 in.
• Width between channels: 10-1/2 in.

 

[Don Frelier]

We use the log splitter, but fixturing the part is kind of tricky.

 

[Cranky]

Yup.....having the proper pieces to set up with is important and it's pretty wild what some come up with that works.

 

[AR67GTX]

I had problems using that 6-ton HF press for difficult items like bushings. It would tend to bend and get out of alignment on stuff like that. In theory it's rated capacity should be sufficient but it's design with the light bars and saddles to the top just couldn't keep the jack stable and properly aligned on bigger stuff. Also it doesn't have enough throat dimension for some things you should be able to do with a 6-ton press. I straightened all the pieces and gave it to a friend to use for light weight stuff in his garage and bought a 12-ton HF press which so far has handled anything I've tried with it. Really for the money I would get the 12 ton unit. I put mine on casters and just roll it off to a corner unless I need to pull it out for something larger.

 

[dadsbee]

 

[Cranky]

I had problems using that 6-ton HF press for difficult items like bushings. It would tend to bend and get out of alignment on stuff like that. In theory it's rated capacity should be sufficient but it's design with the light bars and saddles to the top just couldn't keep the jack stable and properly aligned on bigger stuff. Also it doesn't have enough throat dimension for some things you should be able to do with a 6-ton press. I straightened all the pieces and gave it to a friend to use for light weight stuff in his garage and bought a 12-ton HF press which so far has handled anything I've tried with it. Really for the money I would get the 12 ton unit. I put mine on casters and just roll it off to a corner unless I need to pull it out for something larger.

Mine is 12 ton too and does good with front end parts.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Won't the free Autozone "loan a tool" press work? I've only used it on (*cough*) Fords, but it works very well

 

[dvw]

The trick is a fixture to set it square when you press it out. Take a drill bit between the outer shell and the rubber and walk it around the outside of the rubber. It will walk it right out. Then weld a thick washer the same diameter as the out lip of the outer shell. It'll push out like butter with a pin inserted from the back against the washer. I can get them out in 10 minutes. Then press in the new bushing. Back up the center of the bushing when pressing the pin in. This is so it doesn't push the center of the bushing out the back.
Doug