Using a press to remove and install control arm bushings.

[Kern Dog]

I am ready to buy a press so that I can do my own bushing replacement. I saw a few different versions at Hazard Fraught today. I didn't know what rating would be adequate. I obviously don't need a 50 ton unit.
For those of you that have one, which one would you suggest?
I have taken my stuff to a local guy for years but sometimes I want to do stuff over a weekend when the shop is closed. Also, the shop is a half hour away so doing this at home would be great.

 

[eldubb440]

"and"

 

[5.7 hemi]

20T press from HF works!! I have one and 2 of my buddies have it also. You’ll be happy with it. I’ve done lca uca bushings, sure grip bearings, axle bearings and leaf spring bushings. Damn thing works great!!!

 

[Kern Dog]

"and"

What do you mean ?
The title looks right to me.

 

[eldubb440]

What do you mean ?
The title looks right to me.

what makes you think I was referring to the title?

 

[Richard Cranium]

 

[T2R9]

I have had the 12 ton for a few years and it does pretty much every thing I need. I do find its a little short for some stuff like dealing with axles and I have to block it up some. If I were to buy again I would go 20 ton.

 

[Nate S]

Last set I’d did I didn’t want to wait to take it to work and use the press there. Used the log splitter instead. Kinda fast but the power is great.

 

[hunt2elk]

I have the 20 ton model from Hazard Freight and it works fine for me. Don't think I would go any smaller.

 

[Bad B-rad]

Hey KD, you cant go wrong with a press because I am sure you will use it for a bunch of stuff, besides your Mopar front end.
But 20years ago I bought a bunch of Mopar Specific front end tools from PST, or Mancinni Racing.
I not sure the current prices of them, but besides the upper ball joint socket, I got the tool for upper control arm bushing, and lower control arm one,and torsion bar remover, they work to install and remove them, works great, and look easy enough to make them yourself.
There is always more then one way to skin a cat, and in the end no matter how you get it done, as long as its done correct, its done.
These pictures I took from the google as I am tool lazy to go to my shop now,lol. The longer one is for upper control arm bushings, and the shorter one with the larger cup for lower. Good luck no matter how you do it.

 

[Don Frelier]

A good ball joint press will work on the uppers. Lowers are a different story.

 

[JimCoronette]

I have a raincheck on a 20T HF press.

I think a 12T will suffice, but that one time it can't get a 50 year old lug stud out, you'll wish you would have got the 20T.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

I have the 20 pretty much does what I need. Do yourself a favor after you assemble it weld it together makes a world of difference!

 

[yella71]

20 ton will do everything you need. maybe make some side money doing press work for people. you might want to get 2 hyd. jacks for when the first china junk dies. that will happen right in the middle of a job. your also gonna need press tools. I have a selection of old bearing races and misc round pins and flat plates for any given job. It all looks like junk to the untrained eye but I can press just about anything.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Good call when you get bearing separators buy good ones!

 

[Daves69]

I did the HF 20 ton 5 years ago. Strapped for space I added wheels to the angle iron footprint. Roll it out when needed. Differential and axle bearings are no problem. A lot of people do recommend better press plates.

 

[AR67GTX]

I have the 12 ton HF press and used it for rebuilding my GTX suspension. But I also bought a set of bushing removal installation tools for Mopar years ago and probably used them more so than the 12 ton press. They have various bushing drivers and shells with threaded rod to extract bushing and pull new bushings in place. The 12 ton press unit will handle anything I'm inclined to work on and takes up a bit less space in my crowded garage. I put casters under it so I can wheel it around.

 

[451Mopar]

I am ready to buy a press so that I can do my own bushing replacement. I saw a few different versions at Hazard Fraught today. I didn't know what rating would be adequate. I obviously don't need a 50 ton unit.
For those of you that have one, which one would you suggest?
I have taken my stuff to a local guy for years but sometimes I want to do stuff over a weekend when the shop is closed. Also, the shop is a half hour away so doing this at home would be great.

I have an old Harbor Freight A-Frame type 12 ton that has worked for everything I needed to press, but I don't use it that much, mainly axle bearings.
The specialized tools are nice. A friend of mine has those.
I have been using a ball joint press to remove the bushings. It just seems easier to setup than the press, and the ball joint press has a bunch of adaptors with it.
It is the OTC 6530 kit, but the down side is it costs more than the Hydraulic press. If getting a press, get the 20-ton is't only $50 more than the 12-ton.
I actually use the Ball joint press quite a bit for various jobs. Just seems quicker than setting up the hydraulic press.

Link to the OTC kit:
https://www.otctools.com/products/ball-joint-intermediate-service-kit

Amazon Link, price:
https://www.amazon.com/OTC-Tools-65...BRGP2XTN8MM&psc=1&refRID=0RB42Z9XEBRGP2XTN8MM

 

[Cranky]

My 12 ton is so old that it was made in the USA!! Don't remember if the jack has been replaced but it was made in Japan. Don't see that too much anymore either. Anyways, it's big enough to do axle bearings and wheel studs too. It came welded together and recommend welding any press that's bolted. A 20 ton press that's bolted doesn't make sense to me. I'm sure it's done that way for shipping reasons.......

 

[5.7 hemi]

Here’s my set up......