|
|
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
Installing Lower Control Arm Bushings - Tool Alternatives
If I don't have a shop press and I don't want to spend the money on the special MB tool, is there another way to press the bushings into the lower control arms?
Thanks, Scott
__________________
Scott 1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000) 1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold) 1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold) 1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!) 1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold) 1995 Ducati 900SS (sold) 1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold) 1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.) 1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold) 1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold) |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
I used a vice. A large clamp would work too.
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver 1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver 1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
I used a piece of 5/8" allthread and with a stack of washers. I suppose a big enough bolt would work too.
__________________
"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go" 1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
clean the inside with very fine sandpaper (i used 1200 wet sand grit) and spray out with brake cleaner.
definitely us a vice. and use soft soap to lubricate the bushing rubber as well as on the inside too. the one i dindt figure out was what to use to do an outer crimp of the inner sleeves. i ended up using a plumb bob. didnt turn out so great, but doesnt fall out either |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
To flair the tube I made a tool out of a lug nut from my truck and a long bolt. It worked great. I had to buy a pack of $17 pack of 5 bolts to get the one I needed, so I would be willing to sell some of these tools, say $6 shipped.
My first attempt at flaring the tube involved a 1/2" socket extension and my vice to squeeze it, however the back side of the tube got pressed away from being perfectly flush with the bushing while I was flaring it, so when I tried to put the bushing in place the mount on the body of the car damaged the aluminum tube and I had to buy another one (from Germany )
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver 1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver 1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
To flare the Aluminum tube I used 2 sockets that had tapers to flare the tube end and a large C clamp to apply the pressure. I read another member used a large tapered punch to do the flaring.
I also had to file it flush after the flaring was done. The factory manual tells you to use no oil to lube the bushings and to use a vice to press the bushings in. To lube I have read of soapy water or KY jelly. To press the bushing in I used the threaded rod and large washers that I already had those things from another project just as PatricdeBoer did. I am about 1/2 way through my bushing replacement job. Unexpected trouble removing front Lower Control Arm Bushings. Unexpected trouble removing front Lower Control Arm Bushings.
__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel Last edited by Diesel911; 07-29-2008 at 09:16 PM. |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
It also helps if you put the new bushings in the freezer for a few hours to shrink them a bit. You might heat the bushing end of the control arm a bit with a torch before you press the bushings in too. You'd be surprised how much it helps- sometimes it's enough that they will slip in by hand.
__________________
'83 300D Turrrbo 295K miles |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
A vise will suffice but make sure you LUBE THE BUSHINGS up or you could destroy them putting them in. Soapy water or orange hand cleaner works( the non toxic kind)
__________________
1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life 1991 190E 2.6(120k) 1983 300D(300k) 1977 300D(211k) |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
5/16" all-thread with nuts and a stack of washers
cheap Harbor Freight 3/4" dr. sockets ...........and the best lubricant......KY Jelly (won't harm the rubber and water-soluble which keeps the bushing in place after installation)
__________________
Sam 84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle ) |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
The later W126 may be different, was there an aluminum tube in the center of the bushing? Did it have a bell shaped flair on one end? I don’t think the LCA/bushing would fit back into the mount on the body if you needed to flair the tube and didn’t.
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver 1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver 1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
we are talking about the front lower control arms
|
#12
|
||||
|
||||
It's different for the W126 I guess.
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver 1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver 1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
see this write-up
see this write up - especially post # 10:
Write up - Ball Joints & Lower Control Arm Bushings & Tool Review (PICS!)
__________________
~shell As of 2/2010: 2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0 13.6 @ 106mph 10K mi 1984 300SD 260K mi and going and going... 97 S600 46K miles 1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with) www.se-r.net |
#15
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver 1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver 1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine |
Bookmarks |
|
|