Can't bushing seated!
 

Rebuilding 84 500 sel front suspension.

I am using hydraulic press with a large round bushing driver plate to push the bushing in but it will not seat all the way on the outer lip. It has about a 1/4" gap.

How critical is it to be seated all the way.

John

Fairly critical. Will it slip in to the gussetts on the frame as-is?
If not, you need to get them in the rest of the way. Did you use some tire soap to install them?
Gilly

yes, it is important
 

I assume you talking about a control arm bushing?

yES, THE BIG ONES AND i USED SILICONE ON THEM.

Yep, the big ones and did use silicone but two just would not seat less 5 mm

Could try using a slightly undersized driver to see if you can drag them the rest of the way in.
Gilly

Did you hold the pressure for a while..

Seems like rubber parts will back out when you pull off the pressure. On Subframe mounts, leaving them with the seating pressure for a while allows them to set. Say 5-10 minutes.
I'm assuming you've got the correct part?

Michael

Left pressure on it overnight in press, still no move!

It is the front smaller one.

Pre-loading the bushings
 

Is what they call it....must pre-load the bushings or else.....

so pre-loading bushing/bearing is new?
 

come on....get out of here

actually
 

that's the exact opposite of pre-loading....it's anti pre-loading!

Wish I could be of more help- but without it in front of me.. it's pretty hard to guess at the problem.

If you can get it back out, or afford to buy new ones. try putting them in the freezer overnight, then installing them. They'll contract a little and not be so pliable and probably go all the way in then.
Gilly

OK...here is how I do them
 

I am assuming control arm bushing right? The giant rubber bushing with metal inner-collar? I have one on a Mercedes but several on BMW and SAAB. The hard part is getting the control arm off, you've already done this....so pull the new bushing out wherever it is right now and then.....listen...make sure you have the bushing facing the correct way...if you look at the sides of German bushings there are little arrows to indicate which side they go on....next..get this special gel from MB (regular folks use slightly diluted dishwashing liquid) and lubricate the bushing entirely...then press the bushing into the arm entirely and quickly...the lubricant should work....then you re-install the new bushed control back into the car....here is the pre-loading part...don't fully torque the bolt/nut on the control arm bushing, tighten lightly and then put the tire back on, then lower the car slowly off the jack and let the new bearing load itself, that's why you have lubricate the bushing...it facilitates both installation and pre-loading but you gotta move quick

And
 

of course you have to torque the bolt to spec after the car is on the ground...that's the pre-load.....