Steve:
When I installed the bushings I found a decent sized bench vice and some
dish soap were all I needed. Lube the bosuings and arm with a litle soap and
use the vice to just push the bushing into the mounting ring. You will also
need to use a short piece of plumbing tubing or a large socket to act as a
spacer to get the final positioning. It's about 40 times easier than removal
which involved drilling out enough rubber to allow lubricant to be injected.
It's most important that the mounting ring be really clean and smooth before
installation or the bushing will bind. The trick is that once it starts
moving, keep everything aligned and do not stop turning the vice handle. The
bushing will just slide right in.
The rubber bushing is not supposed to turn within the ring during the normal
suspension travel a it would wear rapidly. Thus the use of soap that will
dry up as opposed to teflon grease etc. that would allow the bushing to
turn. I understand that the urethane bushings must be lubricated as they are
too stiff to avoid turning without breaking up.
Good luck.
Mark Hooper
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Hanselman [mailto:tr6@kc4sw.com]
Sent: March 9, 2003 12:43 AM
To: 6pack
Subject: Trailing arm bushings, help
Well I tried installing one of my new rubber bushings in the trailing arm.
Needless to say I'm ordering another new one to replaceit.
When I asked about what to lube them with Bob came up with a great one, the
problem was I should have asked for the secrets of putting them in. I have
seen info on the list about "C" clamps and other tools and couldn't do it
with my vise.
One of the web sites talks about the "C" clamps and PVC. From what I saw is
the PVC a "wrapper" to keep the rubber from expanding as you push it in?
Any words of wisdom greatly accepted. Given the lack of info on this task I
think I'll take some pictures and put it up on my web site when done
THanks for any help
Steve
tr6@kc4sw.com
www.kc4sw.com
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