Suspension bush replacement - attempt 2!

[X5girl]

Originally Posted by SkidmarkX5

Outstanding DIY Post X5girl!!
I am in the middle of this right now.
DOing the Powerstroke bushes in front (Both Arms)
I would love to acquire a set of those adjustible Link rods. Please do share where to find them!!
Thanks
SkidmarkX5

Adjustable drop links are from PhoenixMotorsport home page.

X5Girl, xxx

[SkidmarkX5]

Hmmm....perhaps I need to revisit this. Thanks for the heads up there X5girl.
I will inspect my procedures and get back w/ y'all.

[loobie]

Install went smooth after i figured out the right way. I took a large bolt and a couple washers and a piece of pipe on the other side to torque it in. As I tightened another nut on the bolt the pressure made it slide in. then I took a mallet and drove it in the rest of the way with a couple hits. No press needed. I lso left the bushings in the freezer overnight to make them shrink. Not sure if that helped.

[SkidmarkX5]

Good for you!

And, BTW, X5girl is "Spot On" (as they say accross the pond) regarding no grease - use soap as bush needs to grip the steel barrell. I screwed the pooch on that one.
Oh, well, as Tanya Tucker sings, It's a Little Too Late To Do The Right Thing Now...
best to ya,

SkidmarkX5

[loobie]

Originally Posted by SkidmarkX5

Good for you!

And, BTW, X5girl is "Spot On" (as they say accross the pond) regarding no grease - use soap as bush needs to grip the steel barrell. I screwed the pooch on that one.
Oh, well, as Tanya Tucker sings, It's a Little Too Late To Do The Right Thing Now...
best to ya,

SkidmarkX5

Well I did use grease to put them in. I used full synthetic stuff that was kinda green. Will I see problems with this?
They feel tight and no more wandering on the highway.

[Hawkdriver75]

Originally Posted by X5girl

You should be able to press the bush in with a large vice, then fit the central tube afterwards. DO NOT use grease as there needs to be grip between the arm and the bush, use some liquid soap instead that will dry out.

X5girl, xxx

I see that you used the copper grease supplied for the outside of the Powerflex Thrust Arm bushing - so to clarify, no grease (including copper) on the inner metal sleeve for friction? Getting ready to do this.

Thanks!

[X5girl]

You use copper grease on the metal tube as it rotates in the urethane bush. Dont grease the outside of the bush where it presses in the housing or it will rotate.

If you grease the wrong parts, it will fail in 500miles or so.

[Hawkdriver75]

Greased the new bushes




So this is the step to use just dish soap to help press them in instead of the copper grease? Thanks, a really good write-up! Can't wait to try it tomorrow.

[X5girl]

Correct. In this pic he is wrongly using the copper grease which will allow the bush to turn in the housing. There is only a small sachet of grease and this is for the pin.

You also need to remove the central pin to allow the bush to compress when pressing it into the arm. Once pressed in the arm, the hole in the middle of the bush and the pin should be greased prior to assembly. When tight, the pin rotates in the centre of the bush whilst the bushes is fixed rigidly in the arm.

If that grease is not removed from aroung the outside of the bush it will fail very quickly and the warranty will be void due to incorrect fitment.

[SkidmarkX5]

Thank You for identification of this same error in my procedure when I was performing a front suspension upgrade last winter. I thought, "Oh goodie, I get to smear this high-tech Copper grease all over, wont this be fun". So, I did.No instructions with the Gee-Whiz, High-Tech product informing me NOT to (I dug through the garbage looking for it). Driving along thinking I am so smart & enjoying my ride for a few weeks.
Then X5 Girl comes along & informs me (well, ALL of us) that its for the pin & only for installation & to avoid grease between the outside housing (clam-shell clamp) and the poly bush.
Afer review of my Suspension Tuning Text (from way back in the day) it is discussed that Anti-Sway bushings went from rubber to Poly to decrease the "mash-effect" where, while in a turn, the inside bush is "mashed" by the Anti-Sway bar until a positive connection is made between the bar & bush primarily from FRICTION. only after that occurrs will torque be tranferred along the bar.....
Well, grease kinda delays if not prevents the full effect of that function.