Best Thrust Bushing Tool

Skyline · #1 09-19-2012, 10:27 PM

Can someone point me in the dirrection of a good tool for pressing in/out a front suspension thrust arm bushing?

Baum tools make a very nice hydraulicly operated one, but that looks too expensive, as I don't own a Porta-power. I do have a shop press at home though, but it would be ideal to have a tool that can press the bushing without removing the arm from the car.

Thanks

TwinTurboGTR · #2 09-20-2012, 07:07 AM

Ohhh...I am pretty sure most her take the arm out and press it off the car. If you don't mind me asking, why do you prefer to replace the bushing instead of replacing the entire arm? The price difference is almost negligible.

Just IMHO, I'd rather take it off and put a new one in instead of finding a PITA bushing won't come out and stressing out.

Just curious.

But if you have a shop press, do you mean it is a drill press or a hydraulic press? If Hydraulic press, how many tons?

Skyline · #3 09-20-2012, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwinTurboGTR

Ohhh...I am pretty sure most her take the arm out and press it off the car. If you don't mind me asking, why do you prefer to replace the bushing instead of replacing the entire arm? The price difference is almost negligible.

Just IMHO, I'd rather take it off and put a new one in instead of finding a PITA bushing won't come out and stressing out.

Just curious.

But if you have a shop press, do you mean it is a drill press or a hydraulic press? If Hydraulic press, how many tons?

The main reason I wanted to swap the bushings is to use the Meyle HD bushings instead of the stock ones.

As far as the press, I did mean a hydraulic press. I think it's 10 ton but it might be more. But I do also have a nice mid 50's Walker Turner drill press. But even if the arm has to come off the car, having the exact tool to press with is much better than using a big socket or bushing driver.

TwinTurboGTR · #4 09-20-2012, 08:15 AM

lol, As soon as I wrote that, I thought, "He probably wants the Meyles in there lol. I think I saw somewhere where you can buy the arm with the meyle bush already in there. Let me try to find it. I think it was only a few dollars more. IIRC

theblue · #5 09-20-2012, 09:14 AM

just take the arm off any slip any random mechanic $20 to press in the new ones?

Skyline · #6 09-20-2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theblue

just take the arm off any slip any random mechanic $20 to press in the new ones?

No way. I prefer to do my own work. I will buy specialty tools when I need them and I do have a hydraulic press already. I don't have a lift, so as I'm getting older, I like working on my back less and less, (although I just swapped a tranny at home a few months ago in my Jeep ZJ). But suspension work is genererally easy. I am not your average home tinkerer. I am probably better equipped at home than most A techs. To give you an idea, this is what my toolbox looks like, (and it's pretty much packed):

TwinTurboGTR · #7 09-20-2012, 09:56 AM

I am jealous!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyline

No way. I prefer to do my own work. I will buy specialty tools when I need them and I do have a hydraulic press already. I don't have a lift, so as I'm getting older, I like working on my back less and less, (although I just swapped a tranny at home a few months ago in my Jeep ZJ). But suspension work is genererally easy. I am not your average home tinkerer. I am probably better equipped at home than most A techs. To give you an idea, this is what my toolbox looks like, (and it's pretty much packed):

jcp240z · #8 09-20-2012, 09:52 AM

Nice! That is bigger than my first apartment.

theblue · #9 09-20-2012, 09:58 AM

good stuff, I do a lot of my own work also, but my rule is that if it costs more for me to buy the tools I'll probably never use again then I'm just going to pay. Especially if it's over something like $20.

Skyline · #10 09-20-2012, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theblue

good stuff, I do a lot of my own work also, but my rule is that if it costs more for me to buy the tools I'll probably never use again then I'm just going to pay. Especially if it's over something like $20.

Well from what I read here, these thrust arm bushings don't last all that long.

But that's why I posted here. The Baum tool is $500+ and also requires a hydraulic pump (like a Porta-power). Too much for me. There were loads of not-too-expensive bushing tool options that I saw on eBay...I just have no idea which if any are good, and which will even do the job. And I'm sure there are a number of options that are not on eBay either. But I am talking about saving several hundred dollars on shop labor to change a number of front suspension components all at once. So I'd rather spend that same money on tools, since my labor is "free", and then I will have the tools for future jobs.

I guarantee I could do this without any special tools; I do have some big sockets, and I've got a large Snap-on bushing driver set. But it would be better to have the exact driver and "receiver" support (for the other side as you press), as that is always better and safer. A hydraulic press can be dangerous, and especially if you try to press something that's not 100% square, it can be a problem. Also, in the case of these bushings, you definately need something on the backside as you press, as they protrude from both sides of the arm. Even better would be if the tool has a threaded rod of some sort so you could change them on the car.